Salt + Gold: Ancient Elements

Salt, Gold + Gold Flake Salt by Saltery

Salt and Gold have both played pivotal roles in shaping human history and civilization. Their impact extends across world cultures. 

Brought together in Saltery’s original Gold Flake Salt, you can enjoy the beauty and benefits of these two precious elements being brought together as a culinary delight.

Can you eat gold? As it turns out, yes, yes you can. But please don't take it from us, hear what FOOD + WINE has to say.

 

SALT

• Preservation and Trade: Salt's primary economic importance lies in its role as a preservative. Before refrigeration, it was essential for preserving meat and fish, making it a cornerstone of trade and economic stability. Cities that controlled salt production and trade routes, such as Venice and Hamburg, became wealthy trading hubs.

• Value and Accessibility:  Salt’s availability and pricing has varied over the centuries. At times, salt was so precious, it was traded for an equal amount of gold! At other times, it has been relatively affordable and widely accessible, though its value could vary based on location and scarcity. In some regions, such as ancient China and the Sahara Desert, salt was highly prized and controlled by the state or specific trading entities.

• Culinary and Ritual Uses: Salt has been integral to culinary practices across cultures, enhancing flavor and preserving food. It also holds ritualistic importance in many communitie.

• Historical Value: Salt’s historical value is reflected in phrases like “worth your salt,” indicating its importance in labor and commerce. Its use in ancient rituals and trade underscores its cultural significance.

Gold

• Wealth and Currency: Gold's value has been driven by its rarity and beauty, making it a symbol of wealth and power. It has been used as a standard for currency and a store of value, influencing global trade and economic systems. The gold standard, which pegged currency value to gold, played a crucial role in stabilizing international trade in the 19th and early 20th centuries.

• Scarcity and Value: Gold’s scarcity and the cost of extraction contribute to its high value. Its use as a reserve asset for central banks and its role in investment markets demonstrate its enduring economic significance.

• Symbol of Divinity and Status: Gold has been associated with divinity and royalty in many cultures. In ancient Egypt, it symbolized the gods and was used extensively in burial artifacts. In Mesoamerican civilizations, gold represented the divine and was a key element in ceremonial and elite contexts.

• Art and Architecture: Gold has been used in art, jewelry, and architecture to signify wealth and power. Its role in crafting ornate objects and grand structures demonstrates its cultural and symbolic value across different eras.

Across time, gold + salt have danced around one another as important precious elements and with Saltery Gold Flake, the two are brought together as a culinary delicacy!