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Flor de Sal – the white pride of Majorca |
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A unique fragrance wafts towards us. The air tastes salty and moist. In the midst of a unique ecosystem, an important product is being extracted.
The quarrying of salt has a long tradition on this island in the Balearics. Salt used to be something rare and precious. It was used in seasoning, consumed with meals, and was also used as a currency. This explains the origin of the word "salary", derived from the Latin word "salarium" = salt ration.
The collecting basins for quarrying the salt lie below sea level in the "Salines de Llevant" in the south of Majorca. During the winter/spring they are submerged in sea water. As soon as it is warm, the water evaporates. What remains is a thick crust, coloured white to pink.
In September the work then starts to remove the thick salt layers bit by bit, to be cleaned and refined.
For almost 200 years, the table sea salt of the Salinas de Levante has been quarried industrially.
Harvesting the "Flor de Sal", a more exclusive product than normal table salt, is more costly. The weather has to be hot and virtually windless, so that the fleur de sel ("flower of salt"), the best and finest salt, can be extracted and carried away by hand.
Majorcan Flor de Sal can be purchased throughout the whole island.
Are you planning an excursion to the popular beach of Es Trenc?
It's worth taking a detour to the giant salt mountains!
You can fly 4 times per week from Berne with Helvetic Airways to the sunny island of Majorca. Flights can be booked at Kuoni, Universal Reisen and Belpmoos Reisen travel agents, or directly at
www.helvetic.com
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