While salting my veggies last evening I thought, why do we say "the salt of the earth" when it comes mostly from the sea? Throughout history salt has been important and was at one time traded for gold.
Why is American packaging somewhat boring.......sometimes just plain ugly.........while in France, something as ordinary as salt is not only vibrant with flavor, it comes in beautiful containers like this.
SEL DU JARDINIER (Gardener's Salt) is beautiful.............gritty crystals with tiny specks of herbs mixed in. This metal trimmed wooden box complete with attached string ties looks lovely sitting on the kitchen counter.
The usual blue box of iodized American salt has only one redeeming factor...........'when it rains it pours'. My French salt will never pour - it's damp and sticky as if it really did come straight from the sea. It needs help from a spoon or one's finger tips - but even that feels right. Sometimes, perhaps all times, the old ways are better.
Well OK, the little girl with the umbrella is pretty and I do like how the company is showing the old illustrations on their packaging lately.
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I guess that goes to show ya what the Americans are doing to their food..iodized??/what's up with that?
ReplyDeleteI do admit I love the Morton salt girl so much that I stitched her. I still have to put it together as a pinkeep. Humm.....that needs on my to do list! However, I am a huge fan of the French sea salt. DH thinks I am nuts but I do think it tastes different than regular salt. We watched a show once here that proved that there is no difference and some sea salt isn't from the sea at all. Well, okay, but I still taste a difference! I have now starting grinding my salt myself. I love corse salt when I use it.
ReplyDeleteHere the packaging for salt makes American packaging look amazing. You buy it in a generic looking white paper bag. Even my corse salt grains come in an ugly white box with a plain blue band around it.
I wish we would go back to next to no packaging and taking your basket to a shop to buy food very fresh. We now buy much of our vegetables directly from a little old man and lady at the front of their farm where they have a stand set up. There are only things like potatoes or onions in plastic bags they save from shops. And then it is enhanced by them coming out for a chat before you leave. DH says to me "Heidi, do you know that we pay more here than in the grocery store?" My response, "Yes, but we also get far more for our money!"
~~ Heidi ~~
interesting post:)
ReplyDeleteI love THE FRENCH salt packaging. and since salt is still relatively cheap, I think french salt is frugal luxury. But where to find in US?
Heddy
Love the pretty white pumpkins. I lean toward older vintage labels, much more pleasant to look at. Your plumb, raspberry dessert turned out beautifully.
ReplyDeleteAlexandra
I've noticed that a few different brands are going back to the older illustrations & I just love the look of the older packaging. The Morton Salt girl is a classic.
ReplyDeleteGood morning Mary! I must tell you how I love your writing - you can make anything so interesting. I use sea salt, but have yet to try French sea salt. I am only allowed a very small portion of salt as it is - so why shouldn't I make what I can have something as lovely as what you have described?
ReplyDeleteBe safe as you travel to the wedding and have a wonderful time.
Deborah
You are so funny! And I am "into" packaging as well - where, oh where, do you find this wonderful treasure? I love salt. The feel, the taste, the magic it can bring to a dull ole potato!
ReplyDeleteAnd all these salt compliments is coming from a girl from, of all plaes, SALT Lake City! hahahahaha!
have a wonderful week-
Colleen
You are so funny! And I am "into" packaging as well - where, oh where, do you find this wonderful treasure? I love salt. The feel, the taste, the magic it can bring to a dull ole potato!
ReplyDeleteAnd all these salt compliments is coming from a girl from, of all plaes, SALT Lake City! hahahahaha!
have a wonderful week-
Colleen
I love your salt post!!
ReplyDeleteFrench salt has to be good.
I love all salt.
Rosemary
There is a large variety of salts to select from these days. Some come in beautiful containers.
ReplyDeleteI buy Maldon sea salt which is produced in Essex, England. It seems to perform the best for me. I definitely think there is a difference in salts.
This is why I love the French...
ReplyDeleteKJ