In a metal shed whirring with equipment, Chris Manson peels again the enormous lid of a bin to disclose a mountain of good white powder that will flip Walter White resentful. Solely, as a substitute of the dry deserts of New Mexico, that is the untampered jap coast of Tasmania and there is the unmistakable tang of sea salt within the air.
“Now we have among the nicest, cleanest waters on the planet for farming salt,” says Manson, the co-founder and farmer of Tasman Sea Salt.
“Ninety-nine per cent of the laborious work is de facto completed on the market by nature,” he provides, gesturing in direction of the good cerulean sea simply past the partitions of his boutique coastal salt works.
Judging from the 2 evaporative cooling towers behind us, I can not assist however suppose Manson is being a bit modest. A former company lawyer with no expertise in farming, he needed to be taught a variety of science and engineering shortly, sourcing bespoke elements that will permit him to pump, evaporate and dry salt water at scale whereas drawing on photo voltaic and hydro energy to maintain operations as environmentally pleasant as attainable.
Right now Tasman Sea Salt can produce practically 40 tonnes of salt annually, a relative speck in comparison with world salt producers in Europe and Asia, however what makes this salt distinct is a mineral signature distinctive to the Tasman Sea, which incorporates larger ranges of potassium and fewer sodium.
On a guided tour, Manson says the thought to begin farming struck when he returned to Tasmania to go to his dad and mom after transferring to London for work. At dinner he seen the household’s desk salt got here from the UK and had travelled simply so far as he needed to be there.
“Why had been we utilizing salt from the opposite facet of the world when we’ve our personal pristine waters proper right here?”
That a lot of our desk salt comes from the UK is not any accident, says co-founder Alice Laing. Due to its important perform within the human physique, and its function in preserving meals for armies, salt has performed an important function in constructing civilisations. Roman troopers had been paid in salt (the phrase “wage” derives from salt), it was traded for gold, and competitors to search out new salt commerce routes helped result in the autumn of the Venetian empire.
Our tour strikes indoors to the newly constructed, Scandinavian-influenced Mayfield Property cellar door, the place giant home windows ship sweeping views of Maria Island bathed in blue haze. Right here Laing guides us by way of particular person tasting platters that spotlight the various makes use of and sorts of salt. A tuna gravlax demonstrates the highly effective simplicity of curing, whereas a mix of wakame seaweed and salt attracts out umami flavours in a roasted butternut pumpkin puree.
Essentially the most illustrative tasting comes from a easy cherry tomato sliced in half. We eat one half uncooked, being attentive to its bitter and bitter flavours. A sprinkle of salt makes the second half sweeter, harmoniously balancing either side of the palate.
“Greater than something, salt has probably the most profound affect on meals. It expands the style buds on our tongues and lets us style extra deeply, permitting extra delicate flavours to come back by way of,” says Laing, who not makes use of pepper in her cooking after discovering the flexibility of salt. She says the saturation of salt in over-processed meals has given the mineral a nasty rap, however the issue is many individuals do not know how one can use it to reinforce what they’re consuming.
“A sprinkle of salt can save a tannin heavy wine or an espresso that is too bitter. It allows meals to be its greatest self and have its perfect flavours.”
THE DETAILS
TOUR
Tasman Sea Salt runs its Salt Sommelier expertise, a 75-minute immersive tour of the saltworks and tasting expertise, every Thursday and Friday at 2pm. It prices $75 an individual, bookings required. See tasmanseasalt.com
STAY
Piermont Retreat gives luxurious homestead lodgings in close by Swansea with views over Freycinet Peninsula. From $410 an evening twin share, minimal two nights. See piermont.com.au
MORE
Justin Meneguzzi toured Tasman Sea Salt as a visitor of Tourism Tasmania.
