Also known as

Sendha namak

Description

Halite is the mineral form of sodium chloride, NaCl, commonly known as rock salt. Halite forms isometric crystals. The mineral is typically colorless to yellow, but may also be light blue, dark blue, and pink depending on the amount and type of impurities. It commonly occurs with other evaporite deposit minerals such as several of the sulfates, halides, and borates. The rock salt is derived from the salt mountains.The rock salt occurs in vast beds of sedimentary evaporite minerals that result from the drying up of enclosed lakes, playas, and seas. Salt beds may be up to hundreds of meters thick and underlie broad areas. It is commonly used as a condiment and food preservative.

The importance of this salt can be realized from the fact it is used in number of Ayurvedic medicines. A large amount of the commercially mined rock salt is prepared for human consumption. Rock salt is also applied to road beds in cold climates to help reduce the freezing point of water on the road, thereby allowing it to not freeze-over at 0 deg. C

How to select

Rock salt is a large-grained, unrefined salt that usually contains inedible impurities.It is easily available, but it is used mainly during fasts. Since India has a very low production of rock salt, the price of this form of salt is very high. In India, one can get table salt of common variety at Rs nine a kg while the cost of rock salt is Rs40 a kilo. What is more is the fact that rock salt is lesser salty in taste and so one has to have more rock salt to get the taste level as compared to marine salt. it is advisable to purchase pure edible rock salt from a reputed store.

Culinary uses

" This condiment is used in India and is used extensively in Indian cuisine during fasting days.
" Rock salt is used as a condiment or added to chaats, chutneys, raitas and many other savory Indian snacks and vegetable preparations.
" Its coarse texture makes it easy to pick up and sprinkle on food during or after cooking
" Homemade ice cream recipes often instruct you to sprinkle rock salt on the ice surrounding the cylinder filled with the ice cream mixture. Salt makes ice melt faster, and the resulting salt and water mix freezes at a lower temperature than ice alone. This makes the ice cream freeze faster.

How to store

Store rock salt in an air tight container.

Health benefits

" While the commonly used salt, which is marine salt, can result into high blood pressure problem, this form of salt checks blood pressure.
" Sendha Namak is considered a cooling spice in ayurvedic medicine and is used as a laxative and digestive aid.
" It is also believed to relieve intestinal gas and heartburn
" Rock salt, which is popularly called Sendha namak, in India, is the best form of salt for the human body.