Hakata Salt Moshio Saredoshio (Japanese Seaweed Salt)
Made from seawater and seaweed straight from the Seto Inland Sea, Hakata Salt’s Moshio “Saredoshio,” or Japanese seaweed salt, brings a distinct complexity that enhances the flavor of typical sea salt. It’s made using a traditional method, in which Hondawara variety seaweed is soaked in seawater, naturally thickened in salt fields under the sun, then boiled down into a fine, easily dissolvable salt. The minimal yet time-intensive process helps preserve each complex mineral, adding even more impact to the flavor of what is dried and harvested off of the seaweed. The salt imparts a combination of delicate bitterness and a punch of briny umami that clings to food nicely; use it to finish grilled fish, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), tofu and carpaccio, or add it to soup, pickles and sushi. Mix into dressings and marinades to boost savoriness, or sprinkle it over ice cream, cookies or muffins if you’re feeling extra adventurous.
Naogen Crystalized Shoyu
Made from freeze-dried soy sauce from Japan’s Naogen Brewery, this unique Crystallized Shoyu contains one-sixth the amount of sodium of table salt, while still adding a kick of salinity to anything. The flaky crystals melt on the tongue, leaving behind a lovely tasting shoyu: rich, not too salty and a little sweet and earthy, like chocolate. The shoyu is brewed from buttery Enrei soy beans, sea salt and Hakusan Mountain spring water; once freeze-dried into airy flakes, the aromatic crystals add a pleasant kick of saltiness to sushi, grilled meat, soups and stews, toast, tempura, eggs, pasta and vegetables. And because the flakes have a mild sweetness behind their savory flavor, they pair beautifully with dessert: Use a pinch to finish blondies, cookies and ice cream, or anywhere you would use a hit of flaky sea salt. The crystallized shoyu adds extra dimension beyond the salinity of plain salt.
Jacobsen Salt Co. Infused Garlic Salt
Jacobsen's hand-harvested sea salt from Oregon has a delicate crunch and releases bright bursts of clean, crisp salinity with each bite; it's perfect for tempering the pungency of garlic, making this one of the most balanced garlic salts we've tasted. The blend is savory and slightly nutty without being overpowering.
Bando Farm Yuzu Salt
A close cousin of the fragrant meyer lemon, yuzu balances punchy citrus with floral freshness. While many flavored salts go too easy on the aromatics, this one makes a true statement—likely because it incorporates the peel, juice and pulp of the fruit and not just the rind like your standard citrus salt. Shaved into airy flakes that melt on the tongue like snowflakes, this elegant salt yields a lightness and delicate crunch that’s not present in denser grains. It’s laced with a pale yellow powder, a clear visual of its vibrant, mild-sour taste. The flavor is unquestionably yuzu: complex and bright, not mellowing into a vague citrusy taste like other similar products, but the even salt itself brings its own nuanced taste to the table. Mined from a 420 million year old salt dome, it offers earthy mineral and peppery notes. Infinitely sprinklable, this seasoning distills the zest and punch or fresh yuzu into a shelf-stable format. Sprinkle atop deep fried dishes like French fries or our Japanese Fried Chicken to cut the richness, or incorporate into a rub for grilled meats to balance the well-browned savoriness with citrus. Shake into soups or into side dishes like our Sichuan Dry-Fried Cauliflower. And if it’s after 5 o’clock, consider using the salt to rim our Chili-Pineapple Margarita.
Jacobsen Salt Co. Pure Kosher Sea Salt
Jacobsen Salt Co.’s Pure Kosher Sea Salt is wonderful as a finishing salt—but it can do so much more. It has a smaller grain than the company's signature flaky sea salt, which makes it a perfect go-to alternative for table salt in recipes: It weighs just a tad less than table salt, so the volumes are almost equivalent, yet it's easier to pick up by hand and sprinkle into dishes than table salt (which is why all Milk Street recipes call for kosher salt). The company hand-harvests every single grain of salt from the Netarts Bay in northern Oregon, so this bright, clean-flavored sea salt has an even consistency ideal for cooking, baking or pickling, in addition to finishing sprinkles.