Fun Facts #544-548 Salt-A-Roo Week
Roo Salt:
Table Salt (20%)
Kosher Salt (20%)
Sea Salt (20%)
Celery Salt (40%)
Fun Fact #544
Salt of the Earth.
The world of today runs off many commodities such as Oil, Concrete, Steel, and Aluminum just to name a few, but among these one stands out as the seasoned veteran; Salt.
Having already earned 24.2billion dollars this year (2024) its safe to say salt is profitable. One of the reasons for this is due to the need for salt in all five forms of life, from very minute amounts in plants, protists (slime molds), Monera (Prokaryotic Single celled life) , and Fungi, to larger amounts needed in Animals. In the early days of civilization, most people got their nutritional salt from the animals they hunted but as agriculture took root, it needed to be supplemented from more pure sources. This is why the oldest city in Europe, Solnitsata (whose name literally means “Salt Works”) was founded in 5,400 BC and supplied the Balkans with salt for most of prehistory.
The front Cover of Ted Robert’s Christian Commentary on reviving lost faith/churches.
Fun Fact #545
Keeping it Kosher
Although we may not think of it much today, Salt has had many uses other than as seasoning and electrolytes. Several of these uses actually are first recorded in the Torah (Old Testament)Kosher laws, with possibly the most underrated being its use in disinfection.
So, how does a simple seasoning accomplish this? Well, it could be it’s dry sense of humor is to die for, but sadly no. Rather its ability to draw the water out of bacteria effectively killing it (osmosis). This is also what allowed it to be used as a food preservative helping to deter bacterial growth on seasoned food or use in brines.
But just to throw some salt on the wound, it also found and still finds use in the Medical field for much that same reason since it can act as an Anti-inflammatory in addition to its Antibacterial effects. In fact this is where the term “To Throw salt on the wound” comes from since the Romans used it to treat skin irritation, cuts, bruises, and mouth sores. Heck even today Saline solutions (concentrated Salt water) is in use for surgeries, optometry, dentistry, and even IVs.
Marketing Image for facial scrubs from “The Himalayan Salt Company”. From what I can tell this is not an actual image of their product so …. I don't know why it exists.
Fun Fact #546
The Saltways
Robbers, highwaymen, and criminals have been the bane of travelers for as long as roads have existed. However, no matter the time or the place your best best for travel has always been on Saltways.
Saltways –also known as Salt routes, or salt roads– have always been some of the best protected roads in the world and often took some of the safest paths possible in the areas they traveled through. In fact the establishment of the Salt trade was so important that the earliest trade routes actually predate the first known permanent settlements with transhumance routes being established where different nomadic tribes would gather at set times and places in a year to primarily trade salt in addition to other goods.
Just some additional notes:
The word Salad comes from the latin “Herba Salanta” meaning “Salted Things” (specifically herbs).
The word Salary comes from the latin Salarium (sal meaning Salt and arium meaning “The Entry Hall”) which was a fee paid to Soldiers in rome and elsewhere in certain circumstances when regular currency could not be easily obtained or used, such as on the fringes of The Roman Empire where trading salt with outsiders was easier than convincing them to accept a foreign currency. This tradition actually surpassed the Roman empire with the last known Salarium (salary paid by salt) being given during the early months of World War 1 by France to it’s soldiers in Northern Africa.
Two examples of Saltway networks
Fun Fact #547
A Seasoning of Giving
Interestingly well policed roads combined with the great wealth that selling salt meant that any city which produced salt usually had abnormally large amounts of wealth and low crime, leading to them forming some of the earliest charities in the world. In fact, in several regions of the globe, charities are sometimes referred to as “saltways” particularly in Northern Africa and the Middle East.
Yet in the US and elsewhere the term Saltways –from a legal perspective– carries different meanings depending on the state it resides within, which has caused it to fall into disuse thanks to its ease of confusion. Here are just a few examples:
In Ohio
Referred to the Pool products industry
In Wisconsin
Refers to organizations whose main focus is the reduction of Salt pollution –mainly by researching alternatives to road salt.
In Florida
S.A.L.T. Outreach (Service And Life Together) is a young adult program for the homeless. Their temporary homes are called “Saltways” and are some of the first structures built in cities after particularly bad storms.
In Illinois
A state run charity professionals contact network to encourage charities to give advice and work together to more effectively help the residents of Illinois after disasters.
In Great Britain
Saltways Productions
Makes films on medium to large charities
Saltway Global
An international network of independent Publishers so emerging authors may have their books published wherever they are (Their locations are called “Salthubs” from which the idea is to season communities with good, independent books which don't need to be politically correct.) They also work as a book marketing and advertising company.
In Europe and Asia
An inter-hotel consulting Network.
Fun Fact #548
Mixups in taste
While there are many varieties of salt, not all Salt is created equal. For instance, Kosher Salt has to be Mined in a specific way and not preserved with anti-caking additives like Iodine, resulting in a purer, and stronger tasting salt. Sea Salt is by contrast collected mainly through evaporation, resulting in impurities which can change the taste based on where the water was taken from.
To help fight this variation in taste from Sea Salt however several cultures around the world formed a habit of mixing salt with other spices and herbs such as Garlic. Traditionally these mixing spices are region specific and may be tied to various cultures.
Yet this also means that as times change a type of salt mix that was once common may disappear entirely such as with my favorite salt mix of all time Beefaroo Salt, which was canceled after Beefaroo was bought out. Beefaroo is planning to expand their chain, but one of the bigger hassles was the various ingredients they needed to make their famous salt –needing to order 4 bags of salt just to make one batch of Roo Salt –with one (Celery Salt) being relatively limited to the Chicago area.
Yet not all hope is lost if you want to make this salt yourself for here (below) is the recipe given by portion size. Technically it is secret, but they currently have no plans to return to it so this is the only option left to get more. I hope you find this fun fact helpful and interesting and please have a wonderful Weekend.
Roo Salt Recipe:
Table Salt (20%)
Kosher Salt (20%)
Sea Salt (20%)
Celery Salt (40%)
Image of Beefaroo’s Mascot “Fry”
