Tara A. Spears
Perhaps you never took the time to think about life without salt -except when preparing or enjoying a margarita. In any region of the world, salt has always been necessary for human survival. But, in the ancient history of Mexico, the dominating cultures (Aztecs/Maya/Incas) used salt as food, as an item of taxation or barter, and even as an instrument of pressure for political purposes.
There are several familiar English terms that evolved due to the importance of salt: “He is not worth his salt” is a common expression. It originated in ancient Greece where salt was traded for slaves. Roman soldiers were paid “salt money,” from which we take our English word, “salary”.
Due to the variety of locations of salt resources, as well as the geographical and geological diversity of the country, over the centuries Mexico has developed a wide variety of methods for obtaining salt.
Today, it is still possible to see ancestral practices for obtaining salt and you can also see Mexican salt companies with cutting-edge technology in their production methods. Weather, climate, landforms and soils are of the greatest importance in all solar salt production, besides the availability of brine. Nayarit state is home to three sources of salt production besides many smaller artisan producers.
For hundreds of years, Mexican salt producers have met the needs of this mineral in the country. From the time of the Olmecs to the present day, the Mexican salt industry meets the demands and challenges of a national and international market whose dynamics require a high degree of competitiveness. In 2024, Mexico is #8 in world production of salt, producing nearly 8 million tons annually.
The importance of salt-sodium chloride-is enormous. “It has more than 14 thousand uses: from tanning skins to producing chlorine, soda, soaps, glass, and for de-icing roads in winter: a very important part of the world’s salt production goes to that sector. Salt has even been used in vaccines against COVID-19,” comments Sergio Moreno, general manager of the Mexican Association of the AC Saline Industry (AMISAC). “It goes without saying that for homes and the gastronomic industry, salt is a simple and simply indispensable ingredient.” In colonial Mexico, from the second half of the 16th century to the early 20th century, salt took on additional importance because Mexico was the first country in the world to use salt on a large scale for industrial purposes for the production of silver.
Salt is found in nature in two forms: as a solid form or dissolved in the sea or in springs. About 85% of the salt produced in Mexico is marine which is produced by solar evaporation.. Sea salt is obtained via a labor-intensive process that includes evaporation. Most tourists will notice the prevalent roadside stands selling sea salt/sal de mar in kilo bags.
Sea salt is harvested along the coastlines of the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean. Whereas, rock salt is also produced using underground brines that are evaporated under high vacuum in the regions of Veracruz and Nuevo León. Likewise, salt is obtained from solar lagoons such as Laguna del Rey in Coahuila, Laguna del Jaco in Chihuahua and Laguna de Santa María in San Luis Potosí. The National Institute of Mexican Statistics states that most of the salt production in Mexico comes from the state of Baja California Sur with the rest is distributed in 14 states that include Nayarit. Contrary to common belief, the labor force involved in solar salt production is considered skilled labor no matter what aspect of production is involved, because experience plays an essential role at all levels.
The history and the traditions of Mexico’s salt industry are an important chapter of its economic, social and political past. Against frequently adverse conditions, over thousands of years the country’s salt industry has supplied its inhabitants with salt. The often excruciatingly hard manual labor of the traditional salinero will soon belong to the past. Perhaps the revival of offerings to Huitociuatl, the Aztec goddess of salt, should be revived.
Many people prefer the tasty flavor of sea salt over refined salt. The all-natural minerals from the rich soils enhance the character of Mexico’s sea salt. Healthy, zesty, unique, just like the country!
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