The History Behind Pink Himalayan Salt: Everything You Need to Know

Whether is a shaker of pretty pink salt on a tabletop or the calming light from a softly glowing lamp, you’ve probably seen Himalayan salt. You’ve probably heard about it, too.

There are a lot of claims and a lot of rumors about this intriguing pink salt. Like all rumors, some are false but plenty are true.

What is it? What does it do? Where does it come from? Is it really worth 20 times more the price of regular table salt?

The pink, mineral-rich salt has a fascinating history that stretches back millions of years. Keep reading to learn everything you want to know — and more — about Himalayan pink salt!

Millions of Years in the Making

Himalayan salt is mined in the Salt Range of the Himalayan mountains. Geologists peg the formation of this region at around 800 million years prior.

To give you a sense of the time period, the first multicellular organisms on earth were just coming to life.

It’s believed that a small inland sea was trapped between shifting tectonic plates. They eventually dried out and formed the salt range that’s mined today.

There are other areas where salt is available. So what sets the salt from the Himalayas apart?

There was one cataclysmic event that made all the difference…

Fire and Ice

Around 200 million years ago, those same sea salt ranges went through a big change due to fire and ice.

First, the volcanic activity covered these crystallized salt beds in lava. After being coated with a protective layer of lava, things cooled off.

The ice age came in afterward, blanketing the salt under a layer of snow and ice. Because of this double layer of protection, pink Himalayan salt is free from pollution and dirt that embeds itself in other salt-laden areas.

The Discovery of Himalayan Salt

The pink salt lay nestled in its protective cocoon for millennia, soaking up minerals and remaining pure from pollution. But one day, it was finally discovered — by Alexander the Great.

Well, that’s not entirely true. It was actually Alexander the Great’s horses.

The horses kept licking the salt-rich rocks around the area. The soldiers wanted to find out why and finally, the secret of the salt was uncovered.

From Discovery to the Modern Era

From that discovery, the health benefits of the salt were highly regarded. Local peoples used it to flavor and preserve their food.

In the 16th century, the first attempts to mining the salt were made. It was a dangerous process which limited the extraction and trade of the salt.

In the late 1800s, the British took over the mining operation. Their techniques were so efficient, that many of them are still in use today.

From there, the salt was used for the previous uses, like food preservation and trade, to modern uses. For example, the popular Himalayan salt lamp was invented fairly recently in 1980.

How Can Pink Salt Help You?

Now you know where Himalayan salt comes from. We’ve only just scratched the surface of all that it can do for you and why it’s so beneficial to your diet.

Browse our extensive list of Himalayan pink salt products and discover how to improve your life with this mineral-rich salt!