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We might use the Blackthorn #graduationtower to assist with evaporation and making precious seasalt crystals, but others in the family love it as a backdrop… what you do when staying off school due to #covid precautions! We all have our passions
3 days ago
A gift of Blackthorn is a pretty wonderful thing (although we may be a little biased!). It is not only thoughtful and practical, delicious and intriguing, but it carries with it a whole host of positive symbolism: across the ages and the continents, a gift of salt is thought to bring good fortune, luck, protection, good health, permanence and stability – all something that a Father could do with!
4 days ago
One of the wonders of Blackthorn is the crystal shapes. Because our method is gentle and, in the Pan House, very much under Salter Malky's watchful eye, each one is grown slowly and carefully over a number of days. They won't ever be the same, convection currents see to that, but we aim for consistency of texture - that 'squishability-factor' that makes it so satisfying to sprinkle, as well as allowing for size-choice when sprinkling - an occasional larger flavour popping flake of salt, or a broader, finer spread across the plate.
Sodium chloride (NaCl) naturally wants to form as a cube - it is the Pan method that allows for the pyramidal shapes to grow: A small NaCl cube forms, but then it sinks a fraction and so the next layer that forms spreads out on the nimiscus and falls a little and the next layer starts and so on. That is why you can see the myriad of contour lines circumventing the centre. Once the crystal is heavy enough to break the surface at its edge, brine will seep in and cause the now-inverted pyramid to fill and so fall gently to the bottom where all crystal growth is stopped. The size and uniformity (or not) of the crystals is all down to warmer currents int the brine causing movement and surface agitation. Sorry, we do get a little obsessed, but think it is amazing and had to share it!
10 days ago