Where Salt Really Comes From: Inside the Redmond Salt Mine (Natural vs Table Salt)
Ever wondered where your salt really comes from? Not the shaker… the source. Today we’re heading underground to explore Redmond Minerals, ancient seabeds turned solid rock, and how natural salt goes from mine wall to your kitchen.
#RedmondSalt #RealSalt #DirtFarmerJay #NaturalSalt #SaltMine #UtahHistory #FoodEducation #AncientSeas #UnrefinedSalt #TableSaltVsSeaSalt #HimalayanSalt #Geology #Mining #SaltProcessing #KnowYourFood #FarmToTable #MadeInUSA #HomesteadLife #KitchenScience #educationalvideo
Salt is one of the most common ingredients in our kitchens, yet most people have no idea where it actually comes from or why salts differ.
In this episode, we explore Redmond Minerals, the Utah-based, family-owned company behind Real Salt. Prehistoric central Utah was covered by an ancient inland sea. As it evaporated, thick mineral-rich salt layers formed, were buried, and preserved deep underground beneath protective layers like bentonite.
Today, that salt exists as solid rock, not loose grains. To be usable, it must be mined and mechanically processed. At the Redmond Salt Mine, salt is extracted using room-and-pillar mining, then crushed and screened into fine, kosher, and coarse sizes. No chemical washing, bleaching, or additives are used. The exception? Solid salt slabs used as cooking blocks.
Redmond separates culinary and non-culinary production. Industrial salt is harvested using blasting and heavy equipment, while food-grade salt is carefully ground from the mine walls using stainless steel equipment and handled to maintain purity.
Typical table salt is highly refined, stripped of natural minerals, and often includes additives. Natural salts like Redmond’s retain trace minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and iron, which influence flavor and color. Himalayan pink salt shares a similar origin but is mined overseas, while Redmond Salt is sourced entirely in the USA.
Other major deposits in the United States include the Great Salt Lake, Michigan Basin, Gulf Coast salt domes. There are major deposits around the world, too.
Finally, we head underground on a Redmond Salt Mine tour. Visitors descend hundreds of feet into massive chambers, learn how salt is mined and processed, touch and taste salt straight from the wall, and even experience total darkness.
You can visit Redmond online to arrange for your own mine tour, as well as to enjoy their product line. I don’t make any commissions on any product they offer - I’m just glad to get interesting and helpful information out.
redmond.life.com
redmondinc.com
To find out about Tour availability, contact Redmond directly:
866-735-7258
2725 N. 100 West, Redmond, Utah, U.S.A.
Salt may look simple, but its story runs deep!