Behind the Brand: Saltverk Hand Harvests Sustainable Sea Salt from the Westfjords of Iceland
Saltverk is a line of hand harvested sustainable sea salt from the Westfjords of Iceland.
Chances are, if you’ve dined at one of numerous world-class restaurants across the country, you’ve tried Saltverk. And if you haven’t, then you’re missing out.
Founded by Björn Steinar Jónsson, Saltverk is a line of artisan sea salts that are hand harvested from the pristine seawater of Iceland’s remote Westfjords—a stunning and remote part of the country surrounded by beautiful scenery and dramatic landscapes. The salts are made using a long-forgotten 17th century process powered by 100% geothermal energy that Jónsson re-established, bringing the ancient tradition back to life. The production method ensures that the salts retain their natural minerals, which provide a distinctly unique flavor. Saltverk features an impressive selection of innovative flavors, ranging from Licorice to Lava, that will entertain the palate and pair well with a variety of dishes.
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“I was studying engineering in Copenhagen but I always had a fascination for food,” says Jónsson. “After graduating from engineering, I worked for IBM in Copenhagen but quickly realized that the alienation of the work I was doing didn’t spark passion, and therefore I wanted to seek out work that was something physical and not just reports in Excel sheets. A big part of ‘Why salt?’ is because of my interest in the food and restaurant industry. Iceland is surrounded by cold and pristine seawater, and is abundant in geothermal energy, so it became the base idea to produce sea salt using a sustainable energy source.”
We chatted with Jónsson, who shared the inspiration behind his artisan line of salts, what the harvesting process entails, their best-selling flavor, recommended food pairings, and more.
When was Saltverk founded?
2011, but the production method that we use is based on the process that was put into action by the Danish king in the 18th century; salt was once a revered commodity used for the preservation of fish for trade. A few decades after its establishment, the practice of salt making in Iceland came to an end. However, the art was not gone forever—the 2011 founding of Saltverk marks the re-establishment of traditional salt production in Iceland.
What’s the meaning behind the name?
“Workshop making salt.” Verk means “work” and salt means, well, salt. We’re a company making salt.
What inspired the creation of Saltverk?
In 2011, during the early years of the New Nordic cuisine movement, I founded Saltverk while finishing an engineering degree in Copenhagen, Denmark. The project was born out of my passion for food, sustainability, and Icelandic pride. At that time, no one had been producing sea salt in Iceland for ages.
Björn Steinar Jónsson, founder of Saltverk.
Tell us more about your line of salt and what makes it special.
We make hand-harvested, sustainable sea salt from the remote Westfjords of Iceland using 100% geothermal energy and only one raw material—the pristine seawater of the region. We are one of the few entirely sustainable flake sea-salt producers in the world. The pure flavor and ingredients set our salts apart. We don’t necessarily see it only as a finishing salt, as many chefs and bakeries use it for bread baking, fermentation, and other applications. But based on the way the crystals form when the salt is made, the product can be crushed with your fingers, making it very suitable as a finishing salt as well.
We currently produce six different variations of salt: Flaky Sea Salt, Licorice Salt, Arctic Thyme Salt, Birch Smoked Salt, Seaweed Salt, and Lava Salt. Each one is delicious and unique in its own way. Pure Flaky is our hero product as most chefs like to keep it simple. Some chefs have said it literally tastes like the ocean and has a touch of umami as well.
In regards to our flavored selection, the whole idea is to create flavors that relate to Iceland and mirror Icelandic traditions. For example, the Arctic Thyme flavor is made using a volcanic flower that only grows in Iceland, Greenland, and Faroe Islands. It is in the family of thyme, but has a sweeter flavor and a lavender-like scent, which is what the Icelandic highlands smell like during the summer months. Birch smoking has always been linked to the holiday season, as a traditional Christmas meal is smoked leg of lamb or birch-smoked arctic char. This is how our products differentiate from many others—they have a rich history in our culture.
Saltverk produces a variety of innovative artisan salts in different flavors, ranging from lava to licorice.
How are the different salts made and where are they sourced from?
Our facility is located on the Reykjanes Peninsula, which separates two fjords and is surrounded by high mountains. Reykjanes, where the North Arctic Ocean stream runs to the Bay of Ísafjarðardjúp, has some of the purest and most mineral-rich seawater in the world, giving Saltverk salt a distinct, deep flavor profile.
The process uses 206F geyser water from the springs of Reykjanes. The saltwater is pumped into open pans, where it is pre-heated and becomes a strong brine with a salinity level of 17 to 20%. The brine is boiled until white crystals appear on the surface. The salt is harvested from the bottom of the salt pans; any remaining liquid is drained, and the salt dried and packaged.
The result of this process is a handmade, pyramid-like, crystal salt flake that contains the flavor and taste of the Nordic region from which the seawater is derived. The finished product includes minerals necessary for human life with zero chemicals or anti-caking agents.
The entire process is completed by using 100% geothermal energy from Iceland’s hot geysers, resulting in a zero carbon footprint as well as no CH4 emissions, making Saltverk one of the few entirely sustainable flaky sea-salt producers in the world. A video showing the process can be viewed here.
As for the flavored salts, we do the birch smoking ourselves and we work with local foragers to source the arctic thyme and seaweeds, which we then blend with the pure salt after harvesting and drying.
How are the different salts made and where are they sourced from?
The pure Flaky Sea Salt is perfect for all types of cooking and baking. Many craft bakers choose our salt for their sourdough and say they only use three ingredients: water, flour, and our salt. Why compromise on flavor by using industrial salt?
The Arctic Thyme Salt is beautiful when curing meat or fish as it gives a natural flavor to the meat. And finally, the Licorice Salt is amazing with chocolate desserts. Licorice and chocolate is a match made in heaven (especially if you’re in Iceland)!
Do the salts offer any health benefits?
We never talk about or market our product as a health product because at the end of the day, it is still salt and salt should always be used in moderation. However, as our salt is made sustainably out of pristine sea waters with slow evaporation, it conserves all the natural minerals in the salt, making the sodium content lower than in table salt. During the process we add nothing and take nothing away from the natural product. Therefore, we’d say it’s a preferred choice for well-being as it is a natural product with zero carbon footprint in production. Because our salt has such a deep, rich flavor, you can use about 20% less salt when using Saltverk without losing any of the flavor.
Saltverk’s different salts also pair well with various foods and beverages. For recommended pairings and recipes, click here.
Any favorite uses or pairings?
Personally, I use Pure Flaky Salt for everything from boiling pasta to finishing off the perfect steak, but of the flavors I like the Birch Smoked Salt the most. It’s amazing on avocado smash toast and on baked potatoes—it just adds a special touch in your home kitchen.
What’s your most popular flavor?
Our black Lava Salt has been the best-selling flavor. We blend activated charcoal with our salt, which gives it the appearance of the vast black lava fields that cover a large part of Iceland. Also, it’s a fun addition to the dinner table to surprise guests and adds character to your plate.
What’s your favorite flavor?
Although I really like all of them, I think I use the Birch Smoked Salt the most. Except in the morning on oatmeal porridge—the Licorice Salt is a no-brainer!
Where are your products sold?
Saltverk is available in select retailers across the U.S. and Scandinavia, our online web shop, along with other retailers like Amazon, Huckberry, and Verishop, to name a few.
What’s next for the brand?
Next up is increasing our position in the U.S market. Over the last few years, we’ve seen a rising interest in our sustainable sea salt in the U.S and that is something that we need to measure up to. We’re also going to continue supporting our sister brand, Angan Skincare, which uses our byproduct, magnesium salt, to make sustainable skin care products based on Icelandic traditions.
For more information and to purchase, visit saltverk.com and follow them on Instagram: @saltverk
[Images courtesy of Saltverk]
Kamala Kirk is a University of Southern California graduate and has been an editor/writer for more than a decade. She has written for E! Online, Total Beauty, TravelAge West, Malibu Times Magazine, and many more. She resides in Los Angeles and is a proud pug mom. Follow her on Instagram: @kamalakirk