The artisanal salt industry is flourishing and many people are turning to it for its superior taste and health benefits. From pink Himalayan salt to purple Bamboo Salt and black Kilauea Onyx, there are a lot of different varieties of salt to choose from. Yet, some are significantly more expensive than others. Why are certain salts more expensive? What is the most expensive type of salt in the world? In this article, we will look at the world’s most expensive salts and discover why these premium varieties are so costly.

Most Expensive Salts in the World

Some of the most expensive salts in the world are also some of the most interesting, and they have a wide range of culinary and medicinal uses. So if you’re looking for a unique way to spice up your meals, then these expensive salts might be the perfect choice for you.

1. Korean Purple Bamboo Salt

$17 per ounce

Also known as Amethyst Bamboo 9x and Jukyeom, bamboo salt is the most expensive salt in the world. Its history stretches back nearly 1,000 years, and it was originally used by Korean Buddhist monks as a form of medicine. This dark, purplish-black salt is coveted around the world for its culinary uses and for its alleged health benefits backed by various medical studies. It's known to have anti-inflammatory properties, serves as an antioxidant, improves immune function, and promotes better nutrient absorption (just to name a few of its many benefits).

The process of making bamboo salt is unique and time-consuming, with all of the work done by hand, which is part of why this particular type of salt is more expensive than others. Each batch is handcrafted over the course of 25 days. Hand-harvested sea salt is loaded into 3-year-old bamboo barrels sealed with clay and roasted over a pinewood fire at high temperature. This intricate and labor-intensive roasting process is repeated up to 9 times until the salt is cleansed of all toxins and infused with the minerals from the bamboo and clay. 

You can find authentic nine times roasted bamboo salt for the best value through the PIOR Living shop. 

2. Hana Flake Japanese Sea Salt

$16 per ounce

Hana Flake is a pure white semi-translucent salt that comes in the shape of a flattened pyramid and sparkles in the sunlight like delicate snowflakes. Hana Flake is light and fresh and compliments most dishes while also making a stunning garnish for cocktails.

3. Black Truffle Sea Salt

$16 per ounce

Black truffle sea salt is a luxuriously flavored salt that can cost up to $16 per ounce. It’s made from sea salt and black truffles from various parts of Italy and France. This salt is very popular in restaurants and it can be used at home to add a dash of luxury to your favorite dishes.

4. Saffron Salt

$15 per ounce

Saffron salt blends the world's most expensive spice, saffron, with sea salt to create a mild floral salt with an orange hue to enhance the taste and health benefits of any dish.  

5. Hawaiian Salts

$10 per ounce

Hawaiian Sea Salts are known for their mineral content and unique colors. Kilauea Onyx Black Hawaiian Sea Salt is made from solar-evaporated salt that's purified with black lava rocks and charcoal. Hawaiian Red Salt gets its reddish color from the iron-rich volcanic clay that’s called Alaea.