The soft pink hue of Himalayan rock salt makes it more noticeable and desirable at the same time. Those tiny sparkling crystals look quite mesmerizing and the lovely pink color adds to its natural beauty.
Whenever you see this salt, you may be wondering about its origin or the reason behind its beautiful pink color. Himalayan salt is usually found in little bottles stacked on grocery store shelves or in jars sitting in our kitchen cabinets.
Well, that’s just Himalayan crystal salt that exists in the form of tiny crystals. But what about the products that are made from this salt? Do they also have a pink color? If so, why? Let us find answers to all these questions for you.
However, for those who don’t know much about Himalayan salt, let’s do a brief introduction first, and then move on to the point of interest here: what is rock salt made of and why is it pink?
What is Himalayan rock salt?
Often given as gifts to others or found piled high in supermarkets or spas, Himalayan salt is an excellent edible salt and bath salt known to have a wide variety of health and therapeutic benefits .
It is not only used to give a beautiful presentation and flavor to different cuisines, but also has a wide range of other benefits.
The name of this rock of salt clearly explains the place of its origins, which is none other than the famous Khewra salt mines . in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. This salt is carefully mined and extracted from these mines in large quantities which are then distributed throughout the world.
Incredible health and beauty products are made from this rock salt, namely face and body scrubs, bath salts , toners, and sole water. Himalayan salt lamps are also quite famous and are not only a source of light but also provide therapeutic benefits to their users.
Origin of Himalayan rock salt
The color and composition of this rock salt depend on its origin as well. To find an answer to why Himalayan salt has a pink color, we must have a solid understanding of its origin.
It is believed that about 800 million years ago a bed of salt was formed due to the evaporation of a huge ocean. The salt bed was then compressed by tectonic and environmental processes and covered by lava on the slopes of one of the highest and most famous mountain ranges in the world known as the Himalayas.
Although the salt bed has been there for centuries, the lava that surrounds it has made it difficult for other environmental contaminants to enter there and affect its purity.
The vast deposits of salt are crushed and broken down into very small pieces to obtain the crystalline version of rock salt. This entire process is purely mechanical and workers work by hand to obtain a pure version of the Himalayan rock salt crystals.
Himalayan rock salt is often considered pure and free. of any type of processing. That is why it is most commonly used as a main ingredient in health and beauty products.
However, very few people know that the basic reason behind the pink color of this salt is the presence of certain minerals in it. So, let us have a detailed description of that and see for ourselves why Himalayan pink salt from Pakistan is pink.
Why is Himalayan salt pink?
There are many minerals in Himalayan salt. . The normal table salt that we use in our daily lives is made up of sodium chloride.
However, Himalayan salt also has sodium and chloride as its main components but along with that, it has eighty four minerals which are the building blocks of this salt. So if you are wondering which mineral is the main component of rock salt. So you already have your answer.
Himalayan rock salt has a significant percentage of sodium chloride, but it also has some other minerals that are responsible for its pink color. Some of these minerals are iron, zinc, manganese, and potassium, however, others are elements like oxygen, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and hydrogen.
Therefore, Himalayan salt has more minerals than any other type of salt. Especially the presence of traces of iron oxide gives this salt a pink color. This pink color makes this salt unique and recognizable.
Does the pink color make Himalayan rock salt more beneficial?
Himalayan pink salt has a wide range of uses and one of them is to give food a beautiful color and flavor. The pink color of Himalayan pink salt is believed to give it certain properties that make it much better than regular table salt. However, there is no scientific theory that supports this argument. Many people use this marketing strategy to promote their rock salt products.
There is no doubt that these products are beneficial to health, but it is not because of the pink hue of this rock salt but because of the minerals that cause this pink color.
Himalayan Pink Salt Products
Some of the more common Himalayan pink salt products are edible salt, bath salt, and animal lick salt that are made from rock salt crystals. Himalayan bath salt is widely known to rejuvenate the skin and make it look healthier than ever. Salt licking is very popular with farm owners for their animals.
Other very common salt products are Himalayan rock salt candle holders and salt lamps which have therapeutic properties and also serve as excellent illuminators.
Bottom line
Rock salt is a fascinating product of nature that comes with an ethereal pink hue due to its mineral components and also has a wide range of uses in our daily lives.
