Kala Namak
This is the most interesting salt.
Though it finishes with saltiness, this salt starts with egg. That’s right, egg, or more correctly the sulfur (iron sulfide) compound that transforms the salt.
And if you don’t know that's what's coming, your taste buds instantly will, and they send emergency alerts racing out the back of your mouth on an impulse nerve to your gustatory cortex to panic you that what you are tasting is spoiled …
… but then something else happens and you reach for another crystal to taste, just to confirm what your gustatory cortex is telling you. This time though, because you expect an eggy taste, you also taste an explosion of vapor, if that makes any sense at all. And the salt comes alive, as a partnership of elements which surprises and pleases, yes pleases, your palate!
Kala Namak is also known as Indian black salt, Kala Loon, Himalayan black salt, and Sulemani Namak. The color of the salt ranges from brownish-pink to dark purple after it has been ground.
Kala namak starts as a halite, commonly known as rock salt, and is mined from the Himalayan salt range. The halite is put through a reduction–oxidation reaction; this is any chemical reaction in which the oxidation number of a molecule, atom, or ion changes by gaining or losing an electron.
Our Himalayan Black Rock Salt is mined in the Indian subcontinent and is in its purest form, without treatment or any refinement process. Packed with 84 essential minerals, it is black after the reduction–oxidation reaction and turns the red-purple color when it is ground into a finer salt.
Long considered a cooling element in Ayurveda medicine, it is used as a digestive aid and for heartburn. Lower in sodium than many other salts, it is a good option for those who need to watch their intake of sodium.
Used in chutneys, Chaats, salads, and fruits - in almost any dish. The salt can be used with tofu to mimic eggs for your vegan friends or mixed in (or sprinkled on top) of an avocado (which is delish!). Kala Namak (despite its egginess) is quite versatile. Use it almost everywhere you salt today (including your bath water!).
This is one palate pleasing pleasantly performing salt!