I thought I'd tell you something about Zapotec Sea Salt ~ I'm using it in toothpastes, scrubs, bath salts and for food, and offering it instead of Dead Sea Salt now.
Zapotec sea salt aka Qab-nab Taab carries on an ancient sea salt harvesting tradition. The earliest evidence of the Mayan sea salt harvesting is dated at about 1000 BC. Scholars looking at ancient trade routes estimate that 3 to 6 tons of sea salt or "White Gold" per day were transported by canoe and on human backs into the interior to supply the Mayan people whose population then is estimated to have been greater than the population of the same region today. Sea salt was produced on both sides of Central America in what is now Guatemala, Mexico, Belize, and even into Honduras and El Salvador. Recently discovered archeology sites (many now underwater) attest to the vastness of this ancient enterprise. The great Mayan civilization rose by controlling salt production and prospered on the ability to trade salt, flourishing in spite of constant conflict over control of salt sources.
Qab-nab Taab is an Ecologically friendly sea salt because of the way it is produced. This is a tropical sea salt formed from ocean water trapped in man-made ponds. The mangrove sanctuaries are located next to nurtured mineral rich volcanic soil deposits. Pure ocean water is captured in the salt ponds and evaporated, imparting great flavour and high mineral content. The salt is hand harvested to remove only the top layer, the best salt. The production methods protect the local environment and improve the local eco system. The tropical sun and wind leave behind snowy white crystals of crunchy, flavorful sea salts full of vital minerals and trace nutrients.
I've sourced this sea salt through ChocoSol, which combines socially just practices with a sense of community. The horizontal relationship significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with sourcing the salt, allowing for excellent pricing and reduced environmental impact!
Great for both eating and product making, you can buy it in the store or by mail order here http://www.anarreshealth.ca/content/salt-zapotec-sea-salt
Learn why I stopped using and carrying Dead Sea Salt here http://www.anarreshealth.ca/blog/anarres-and-ethics-using-dead-sea-salts...