When it comes to choosing a natural salt for your kitchen or health routine, two names stand out – Celtic salt and Himalayan salt. Both are praised for their trace minerals, flavour, and unrefined nature, but how do they actually compare? And more importantly, which one is better for your health, taste preferences, and everyday use?
Let’s take a closer look at the differences between these two mineral-rich salts to help you decide.
Table of contents
What Is Celtic Salt?
Celtic salt (also called Celtic sea salt) is harvested from the coastal regions of France, particularly Brittany. It’s made through the traditional process of solar evaporation, using clay-lined salt flats. This method preserves its natural grey colour and moisture content.
Key characteristics:
- Light grey colour
- Moist texture
- Rich in magnesium and trace minerals
- Often sun-dried and unrefined
People often choose Celtic salt for its high moisture content and slightly briny, oceanic taste. It has gained popularity in gourmet cooking and is often added at the end of a dish to retain its unique texture.
You can find both coarse and fine ground versions of Celtic salt available for kitchen use.
What Is Himalayan Salt?
Himalayan salt is a type of rock salt mined from ancient sea beds deep within the Himalayan mountains, primarily in Pakistan. Its distinctive pink hue comes from iron oxide, and it contains up to 4 trace minerals, including potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
Key characteristics:
- Pink to light orange colour
- Dry and granular texture
- Balanced, slightly earthy flavour
- Often used for cooking, bathing, and decor (salt lamps, salt bowls, etc.)
Himalayan salt is extremely versatile – beyond seasoning, it’s also used in wellness routines such as salt inhalation (halotherapy) and salt baths.
Explore the full Himalayan salt range here.
Mineral Content: Which Salt Has More Nutritional Value?
Both Celtic and Himalayan salts contain natural trace minerals, but they differ slightly in composition.
| Mineral | Celtic Salt | Himalayan Salt |
| Sodium | Slightly lower | Slightly higher |
| Magnesium | Higher | Moderate |
| Potassium | Moderate | Moderate |
| Iron | Very low | Higher (gives pink colour) |
If magnesium is a priority (e.g., for muscle or nerve health), Celtic salt may have the edge.
If you’re after a broader spectrum of trace minerals, including iron, Himalayan salt might be better suited.
Taste & Cooking Use
- Celtic salt: Moist, soft, and dissolves quickly. Works well as a finishing salt or for seafood dishes.
- Himalayan salt: Crunchier texture and slightly earthy flavour. Ideal for cooking, roasting, and grinding fresh.
Both salts are non-iodised, so they retain their natural structure and flavour. If you’re switching from processed table salt, both will offer a more complex and subtle taste.
Uses Beyond the Kitchen
While both are natural salts, Himalayan salt is more commonly used beyond food – for health, wellness, and decor.
Himalayan salt is used in:
- Salt lamps for air purification and mood lighting
- Bath soaks for muscle relaxation
- Tequila shot glasses, Salt bowls, grinders, and culinary blocks
Celtic salt, on the other hand, is rarely used outside of food but remains prized by chefs and health-conscious cooks.
Which Salt Is Better for You?
It depends on your needs.
Choose Celtic salt if you:
- Prefer a moist, oceanic flavour
- Want slightly higher magnesium content
- Are mostly using it as a finishing or gourmet salt
Choose Himalayan salt if you:
- Want a drier, mineral-rich cooking salt
- Appreciate the iron and pink colour
- Are using salt for wellness and detox (e.g., inhalers, lamps, baths)
Still undecided? You can try both in small quantities and compare them side-by-side, you might find they serve different purposes in your daily routine.
Key Takeaways
- Celtic and Himalayan salt are both unrefined, mineral-rich alternatives to table salt.
- Celtic salt is moist and briny, with more magnesium. Himalayan salt is dry, versatile, and packed with trace minerals.
- Himalayan salt offers broader use beyond food – including decor and wellness.
- Your choice depends on flavour preference, intended use, and health goals.
Looking to explore both? Browse SafeSalt’s Celtic salt collection and Himalayan salt products to get started.
For questions about sourcing, quality, or best uses, you’re welcome to contact our team.
