On the french island of Re near La Rochelle and Cognac, naturally intense and flavorful salt has been hand-harvested from the sea since the VII century. These sea salts taste like the sea and contain iron, magnesium, calcium, potassium, manganese, zinc and iodine - not merely sodium chloride like industrial salt.
Fleur de Sel: Literally "the Flower of Salt", is the finest whitest salt skimmed in summer from the thin surface layer of the salt pans. When piled up it blooms, develops a pink tinge and the aroma of violets. It looks like snowflakes and is deeply salty. Use it as a condiment for dipping with raw vegetables or sprinkling on steak and fish.
Grey Salt ("sel gris") - Grey sea salt is harvested from the bottom of the salt bays. Its color comes from the high clay content in the soil and this confirms that the salt is totally natural - not treated or washed like commercial salt. It is very high in healthful mineral content. Its crystals are comparatively large and its aroma is very flavorful and redolent of the sea. It smells and tastes of fresh sea air. Use it for cooking as well as the table.