The industrial revolution didn't really arrive in Iceland until the turn of the 20th century. However, in the mid 18th century, there were some attempts made industrialise Iceland. In 1752 the first Icelandic joint stock company was founded with that end in mind, emphasising wool production, sulphur mining and fishing mostly in and around Reykjavík. The venture had mostly petered out by 1800. Separately, but at the same time, salt production was established in the Westfjords. The method of production was to extract salt from the ocean using a geothermal process. This too didn't last into the 19th century, but in the 21st century the founder of Saltverk, Björn Steinar, setup salt production using the 18th century method. The yield is salt of pristine quality and texture.
From Saltverk:
Saltverk was born out of a passion for food, sustainability, and Icelandic pride. We wanted to make a product that expressed these passions and that was of the highest quality. Using the natural resources that we have right at hand in Iceland - geothermal hot springs and pristine, clean seawater - we started making sea salt. By only using geothermal energy for our production, we’re able to create a sustainable, carbon neutral product with no carbon footprint on the environment.
Tasting Notes : Our pure sea salt is a crunchy, mineral-rich sea salt. The higher mineral content, and flaky structure of our salt give it a bold, rich and pure flavor that enhances and elevates the dishes you cook. Once you try it, you won’t want anything else.
Key Descriptors : Pure, Pristine, Bold
Best Pairings / Recipes : Everything. You can use this salt for cooking, for brining, for curing, for finishing and everything in between.