Many people assume that all pink or “Himalayan” salts are the same—but they aren’t. Some salts labeled as Himalayan actually come from entirely different regions, while others vary widely in how they’re mined, processed, and evaluated for purity and mineral content.
If you’ve ever wondered whether the Himalayan salt you use is truly authentic—or whether Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® offers something different—there are four key factors that set it apart. From sourcing and structure to mineral profile and research, here’s how to know you’re getting a salt of the highest quality.
How is Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® different from the Himalayan salt I already use?
If you read the answer to “What is the difference between all the types of salt?” you know that some pink salts—or salts claiming to be Himalayan—can actually come from other parts of the world like South America, Australia, or Eastern Europe.
But even among salts that do come from the Himalayan region, there are important differences. Here are the four key factors that set Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® apart.
1. How is the salt mined?
Most grocery-store Himalayan salt comes from large commercial mines in Pakistan, where explosives are often used to open mining areas. Workers bore deep holes into the rock face with hand-cranked drills, fill them with gunpowder, set fuses, and clear the area before detonation. Once the dust settles, trucks enter the mines to collect the salt.
Metal grinders are typically used to break down the salt, which means small metal fragments can occasionally end up mixed into the final product.
Working conditions in these large industrial mines can be difficult and dangerous. According to Azmad Malik, former deputy chief of the salt-workers union, seldom does a week pass without a report of a serious accident.
By contrast, Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® is sourced from a remote location high in the foothills of the Himalayan Mountains, where it is carefully mined by hand using traditional methods.
From there, it is transported by donkey along a narrow mountain road to our facility, where it is cleaned, hand-sorted, and stone-ground—preserving the salt’s natural crystalline structure. This careful, small-scale approach is the only way to help ensure that all 84 minerals remain in their naturally occurring form for optimal bio-availability.
2. Do they have 84 trace minerals and a unique crystalline structure?
Only Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® has a Certificate of Analysis, as published in the book Water & Salt: The Essence of Life, verifying both its full spectrum of 84 trace minerals and its distinctive crystalline structure.
In our original investigation, no other source could provide this essential information, which led us to enter into an exclusive distribution agreement with our partner for Original Himalayan Crystal Salt®.
This structure and mineral profile are key reasons why the salt is so highly valued.
3. How are the miners treated?
Many commercial salt operations focus solely on volume and output, often at the expense of worker well-being. We take a very different approach.
With Original Himalayan Crystal Salt®, we establish joint venture partnerships with the local community to ensure fair, ethical sourcing. Workers are paid a living wage and provided with safe, respectful working conditions.
By creating a small, community-based industry focused on producing a high-value finished good—not bulk commodity salt—we help generate 5–10 times more income for local families. At the same time, this approach effectively reduces costs for consumers because there are no added expenses once the salt leaves the source.
This commitment to ethical practices is why only Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® bears the official seal of this remote region—verifying that you are getting genuine, unadulterated crystal salt in its purest form.
4. Do they have research on the health benefits of their exact salt?
To date, the only published research we have been able to find on Himalayan salt comes from the studies featured in Water & Salt: The Essence of Life, which examined Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® specifically. Additional research since then has also been conducted on this same salt.
This body of research—often mistakenly assumed to apply to all Himalayan salts—showed that Original Himalayan Crystal Salt®:
- Provides your body with electrolytes that support cellular communication*
- Helps improve hydration into your cells*
- Supports healthy acid-alkaline balance*
- Helps maintain normal blood pressure levels already within the normal range*
- Supports detoxification and healthy intestinal cleansing*
- Supports a properly functioning metabolism*
When choosing nutritional and wellness products, understanding the specific research behind the exact ingredient matters—especially when many products make broad claims not tied to their own source.
When it comes to your health, the choice isn’t just between “good” and “bad.” It’s often between good, better, and best. Knowing where your Himalayan salt comes from, how it’s mined, and what research exists about its composition helps you make a more informed decision.
Original Himalayan Crystal Salt® is sourced with care, processed using traditional techniques, and supported by unique analyses and research specific to this exact salt. Choosing it means choosing transparency, quality, and a product held to the highest standards from source to shelf.
