Valley Gems

 Himalayan Salt comes from the Salt Range. A hill system in the Punjab province of Pakistan, deriving its name from its extensive deposits of rock salt. The range extends from the Jhelum River to the Indus, across the northern portion of the Punjab province. The Salt Range contains the great mines of Mayo, Khewra, Warcha and Kalabagh, which yield vast supplies of salt.

Geologists put the age of rock-salt found in Khewra at about 600 million years. In geological timescale this time period is called Precambrian. It is said that discovery of rock salt in Khewra area dates back to as early as circa 326 BC. According to a legend, the army of Alexander the great was resting in Khewra area after a battle with Raja Porus. Some horses of Alexander's army were then seen licking rock salt in the area. Somebody from Alexander's army noted down the incident and we came to know that salt was discovered.

It is said that the chiefs of "Janjua-Raja" tribe were the first to initiate the standard mining practices here in the 13th Century. However, a chronology of the Mughal Rule in the Sub-Continent says that when the Mughals emerged supreme in the Punjab, they took over the mine from local tribal chiefs and, thereafter, started to work on it until Punjab came under the Sikhs. Under Sikh rule the mine came up to be known as 'Khewra Salt Mine'. The British ousted the Sikhs and annexed Punjab in 1849 and renamed the mine as the 'May Mine' in 1870.

In 1872, Dr. H. Warth, a renowned British Mining Engineer, laid out the main tunnel at ground level. He proposed that only 50% of salt be excavated from the working seam while the remaining 50% is left as pillars. 155 years later this same method logy called the 'room and pillar' method is still being used in Khewra mining operation.

To make salt from Khewra mines accessible to rest of India, British laid a railway line which was opened as a meter-gauge on January 1, 1883. It was later converted to a siding and a broad gauge line was laid which is operational to date.

The History Of Salt 

Alexander the Great came across the Himalayan salt deposits during his travels across Asia. His men and horses were weary and dying from lack of salt minerals until his horses began licking outcrops of exposed salt, and he noticed that they immediately were restored to full health and strength with sufficient water intake. His men also began to eat the salt  and recovered in a remarkable short time. He traded much of his pillaged gold for the salt. From this came the saying, “you cannot eat gold”

In ancient days, everybody that could afford it had salt. Salt was used for many things around the home, not just food, but also for warding off disease, wound dressing, cleaning teeth the body, Some people used to receive their salt in a large block and it is said that the saying “you’re a chip off the old block” came from this. It is also folk lore that during the deadly plagues in Europe and around the world, those who had regular access to the salt often had their life spared. Ships carried salt as a preservative and for the minerals  In the days of the kingdoms of Europe those who could not afford salt  sat ‘below the salt’, while the royalty were ‘above the line of salt’. The royal court always had control of the salt production and distribution.

Salt was a highly valued  trade item.  So much so that it served as a monetary exchange. The word ‘salary’ is  derived from salt. Roman soldiers and others where paid in salt. The Latin word ‘salarium’ means payment in salt. Salt was treated with extreme value and as a sign of ‘goodness’, hence the terms “you’re worth your weight in salt”, or "salt of the Earth  The Romans built roads specifically for the transportation of salt. One such road, the Via Salaria, led from Rome to the Adriatic Sea where salt was produced by evaporating seawater, a common method still used today.

Salt has many legendary references;it was used  as a means to ward off ‘evil’ spirits by traditional ‘Shamans’ and as a sign of good luck, “take it with a pinch of salt!” .The word salt comes from the Latin term ‘Sal’, which in turn comes from the word ‘Sol’. This is connected with Solé, which literally means ‘liquid sunshine’, a general term we would know is brine or saline. 

In ancient times  common rock salt was given to the common people and the highly valued crystal salt( Himalayan Salt) was reserved for royalty.

The agricultural revolution saw the demand for salt increase. Besides being valued as a seasoning, we discovered the ability of salt to preserve food. This opened the possibility for traveling and carrying our food with us.

History of Salt In Religion

There are thirty-five Biblical references to salt. In the New Testament, Matthew 15:3, Jesus speaking to his disciples, “You are the salt of the earth.” Thus telling them how valuable they were. 

Salt has a long history of use in rituals of purification, protection, and blessing. Salt has been used throughout the ages to ward against negative energies and evil spirits. In Germany salt was put into the corners of the homes of newlyweds to dispel any ‘bad’ or negative energy. 

In Jewish tradition they dip their Challah or bread in salt on Shabbat. 

The word ‘salvation come's from  Sal  Latin for salt. Salt has been used traditionally in the Catholic Church for a number of purifying rituals. In Leonardo Da Vinci’s painting of The Last Supper. You’ll see how Jesus’ disciple, Judas, has spilled over a bowl of salt, an omen of the evil or wrong deed about to be perpetrated. We still keep this tradition alive today when we throw a pinch of salt over our shoulder to ward off any evil spirit that may be behind our backs.

Buying Himalayan Salt 

Contrary to the claims of some suppliers, there is no independent mining in this region. All mines in Pakistan are under the control of PMDC (Pakistan Mineral Development Corp.) PMDC give contracts to major mining companies, who mine various grades of salt for a number of usages. Most of the salt is used for industrial purposes; a small amount of salt is crystallized which traditionally is used for consumption. Our associate partners have a contract  to mine crystal salt at the Khewra mine.  This mine is famous for its high quality crystal gourmet salt as well as medium iron salt lamps. 

Unfortunately the Himalayan Salt industry is unregulated and unless buyers as able to independently verify the quality and origin they are open to abuse by the suppliers in Pakistan. This is especially so in the case of third party distribute's . Salt Essentials pride ourselves on the fact that we are leading the way when it comes to the quality. All our salt is analyzed before leaving Pakistan and the results are independently verified on arrival in South Africa. 

Himalayan Salt should be 90% peach to light pink in colour. Excessive white crystals are a indication that the salt has been contaminated with industrial salt. This salt is not suitable for human consumption. It should also be remembered that pink or peach salt is not exclusive to Pakistan and the Himalaya,s 

Rock salts mined in several parts of the world, including Chile, Hawaii, Utah, Bolivia, the Murray-Darling basin of Australia, Peru, and Poland are marketed as Himalayan salt or pink salt. The color results from iron oxide.

Unfortunately many of these different salt,s find there way onto the shelves of unsuspecting consumers as Himalayan Pink salt. 

We at Valley Gems  can however give our customers the unequivocal assurance and guarantee that our products are 100% A grade Himalayan pink salt