Also known as bamboo salt or purple salt, Korean bamboo salt is one of the most valuable and prized salts on earth. Due to the careful, handcrafted way in which it is produced and its remarkable health properties, Korean bamboo salt is uniquely superior to other salt variants.
Korean Bamboo Salt Origins
Korean bamboo salt was initially developed over 1,000 years ago by Buddhist monks as a health remedy for the Korean people. The ancient tradition begins with hand harvesting sea salt off the West coast of Korea and letting it dry naturally in the sun. Once dried, the sea salt is then deposited into 3-year-old bamboo pillars that are sealed with red clay collected from deep within the Korean mountains. The bamboo pillars are placed in an iron kiln and roasted over a pinewood fire at 1472°F for 8-15 hours until the bamboo is incinerated and a white salt pillar remains. The salt pillars are ground, re-sealed into new bamboo stalks, and the process is repeated up to 8 times. The more times it is roasted, the more alkaline and medicinal it becomes and the higher its overall quality. For 9 times bamboo salt, the final roasting process occurs with a resin fire at (above) 2732°F until the salt and bamboo liquify.
Why Korean Bamboo Salt is so Valuable
The careful labor-intensive process that is employed to create Korean bamboo salt yields unique results and health benefits. Most conventional salt is contaminated with toxins, is acidic, and is also devoid of nutrients. Bamboo salt, however, is toxin-free, alkaline, and has a mineral dense composition that is rich in iron, potassium, calcium, and more. As a result, bamboo has many therapeutic benefits. It's believed that bamboo salt can improve digestion, detoxification, immune function, oral health, and skin care. Studies also reveal it has anti-oxidant and anti-cancer effects!
Where to Buy
Two of the most popular varieties of Korean bamboo salt will be found at PIOR Living's online shop in the coming months!- Nine times roasted purple bamboo salt, which boasts a pH of 11.5, can be used for cooking and seasoning, making electrolyte beverages, or for your personal care, such as mouthwashes and foot soaks. You can also dissolve a few crystals on your tongue throughout the day to benefit from its hydrating and alkalizing effects.
- If you want a milder sulfur flavor, try three times roasted gray bamboo salt, which has a pH of 10.10!
Whether you are looking for a high-quality cooking salt, want to make a superior post-exercise electrolyte beverage, or are looking for a toxin-free salt for your personal care, Korean bamboo salt is the most premium salt on earth!
Greta Kent-Stoll is a Certified Ayurvedic Practitioner (NAMA), as well as a writer, editor, and Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher.