Bear Creek rubs offers five spice blends that enhance meals and provide distinctive flavor to meat, vegetable dishes and so much more. When you examine the ingredient labels on the different spice jars you notice that each recipe contains many of the same ingredients. It is the combination of the ingredients, with subtle additions or subtractions, that gives each blend its distinctive flavor.
Over the next several weeks we would like to invite you to come on a journey to find out where these individual ingredients come from, and what they add to each of the recipes.
On our first stop, we will explore the use of salt. Salt, scientifically known as sodium chloride (NaCl), is a mineral that has been essential to human life for thousands of years There are two primary sources of salt throughout the world. Salt can be found in abundance in oceans and saltwater bodies in some regions, salt is produced through the evaporation of seawater in ponds. As the water evaporates, salt crystals are left behind and harvested. It is also present in rock formations, where it's mined through processes like solution mining and traditional mining methods. Salt is extracted from underground salt mines. These mines can be found in various parts of the world, including the United States, China, India, and Europe.
Salt is perhaps most known for its use in cooking. It enhances the flavor of food and is used in various cuisines around the world. Additionality it acts as a preservative, helping to prevent the growth of bacteria in food and thus prolonging its shelf life. Historically, salt has been used for its cleansing properties. It's used in some oral hygiene products like toothpaste and mouthwash.
Various substances have been added to salt to enhance its benefits as well as flavor. Iodized salt is table salt that has been fortified with iodine, an essential nutrient that helps prevent iodine deficiency disorders like goiter. Iodized salt is widely used around the world to ensure that people get enough iodine in their diets.
Some varieties of salt are flavored with additional ingredients like herbs, spices, or infused with elements like truffles or smoked flavors. These flavored salts add unique tastes and aromas to dishes and are often used in gourmet cooking and food presentation.
Salt plays a crucial role in various aspects of human life, from culinary applications to industrial uses and health benefits. Its versatility and importance have made it an indispensable commodity throughout history. The sea salt that we use, in our blends, comes from the Pacific Ocean.