From Sea to Salt: Our Visit to Cornish Sea Salt

a discovery by the sea

There’s a quiet charm to the Cornish coast, where the salt air lingers and the shoreline holds its stories. It was along one of these peaceful coves that Tony Fraser, founder of Cornish Sea Salt, made a discovery that shifted his path. While walking, he noticed the remains of an Iron Age salt works tucked away from view. Many would have enjoyed the scenery and moved on, yet Tony paused. He wondered how such an important part of Cornwall’s heritage had faded. Once, salt supported farming and pilchard curing, but rock salt eventually took its place. The question stayed with him, and soon he felt compelled to revive this Cornish tradition for today’s world.

@cornishseasalt

bridging the ancient and the modern

That moment became the beginning of Cornish Sea Salt, a company built on heritage and fresh thinking. Inspired by centuries-old methods, their work still starts with the same ocean that has shaped Cornwall for generations. Seawater is drawn from the protected waters of The Lizard Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, where the team balances nature with gentle science. The Cornish Sea Salt Team have travelled the world to learn the science of creating tasty sea salt flakes.

our journey to the Lizard

Just a 25 minute venture from our Whistlefish studio took us to this fascinating corner of Cornwall’s south coast, where we were greeted by the marvellous Philip, or “the Salt Geek” as he’s fondly known. With the sea breeze still in our hair, we followed the journey from seawater to salt to packaging, watching as the crystals took shape, each one a reflection of the ocean’s rhythm. Few salt producers can say they harvest directly from open waters, and fewer still do so with such care for their craft.

Cornish sea salt is made by pumping filtered, Grade A Atlantic seawater into a salt house, where it is heated to crystallize the salt. The crystals are then hand-harvested, dried, and packaged. The process is designed to be sustainable and takes place near the Lizard Peninsula in Cornwall, with the company taking great care to minimize its environmental impact.  

a taste born of the landscape

Beneath the surface beauty of The Lizard lies something remarkable. Its ancient serpentine and gabbro rock are rich in magnesium and calcium, minerals that not only sustain life but define the signature taste of Cornish Sea Salt. Each delicate crystal holds a whisper of Cornwall’s wildness, a memory of wind, wave and stone.

from Cornwall to the world

From those humble beginnings, Cornish Sea Salt has grown into a worldwide name, now found in more than 36 countries. Their distinctive blue and white pots sit proudly in Michelin starred kitchens and family homes alike, loved by chefs and home cooks who value both taste and authenticity. Every pinch adds a touch of Cornwall to the table, bright, mineral rich and unmistakably pure.

two Cornish stories, one shared spirit

And as we left the salt house that day, with sea air in our lungs and the sparkle of salt still clinging to our fingers, we couldn’t help but feel a quiet kinship. At Whistlefish, we too believe in the beauty of craft, the power of place and the joy of creating something special to share with others. Two Cornish stories, shaped by sea and heart, forever intertwined.

Check out www.cornishseasalt.co.uk