What Is Kosher Sea Salt? (And Why We Use It)
If you’ve ever seen the phrase “kosher sea salt” and thought, wait… which is it? you’re not alone.
Most people are taught to think of salt as three separate categories:
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Table salt
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Kosher salt
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Sea salt
But in real kitchens, that division doesn’t actually hold up. And once you understand why, the kind of salt you cook with starts to matter a lot more.
Kosher vs Sea Salt: They’re Not Opposites
Here’s the simple truth:
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Sea salt describes where the salt comes from
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Kosher salt describes the size and shape of the crystals
They answer two different questions.
Sea salt
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Made by evaporating seawater
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Naturally contains trace minerals
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Clean, balanced flavor
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Less processed than table salt
Kosher salt
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Larger, flaky or coarse crystals
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Easy to pinch and control
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Distributes more evenly on food
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Favored by chefs for everyday cooking
Put them together and you get:
Kosher sea salt = sea salt formed into larger, chef-friendly crystals
That’s not a contradiction. It’s the best of both worlds.
Why Crystal Size Changes How Food Tastes
One of the biggest salt misconceptions is that saltiness is just about how much you use. In reality, crystal size changes how salt behaves on food.
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Fine salt packs tightly and hits all at once
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Coarse salt spreads out and seasons more evenly
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Larger crystals give you more control while cooking
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Texture matters just as much as flavor
This is why chefs almost never reach for table salt when cooking savory food.
Salt doesn’t just season food.
It shapes how flavor lands.
Why We Use Kosher Sea Salt at Summa Salts
At Summa Salts, we start with coarse kosher-style sea salt on purpose.
It gives us:
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A clean, mineral-forward salt base
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Crystals large enough to grind fresh
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Better texture and control for home cooks
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A salt that works for both cooking and finishing
Most importantly, it’s the right foundation for how we make our blends.
Our Process: Grinding Flavor Into the Salt
We don’t coat salt with powdered flavorings.
Instead, we:
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Start with coarse kosher sea salt
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Grind fresh herbs, peppers, citrus, and spices directly into the salt
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Let the salt absorb the natural oils, aroma, and color
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Create blends that taste alive, not dusty
Because the crystals are larger, they carry flavor better and release it gradually as you cook.
That’s why our salts work on simple food.
Eggs. Chicken. Vegetables. Steak.
You don’t need a complicated recipe.
You just need good salt.
Why This Matters for Home Cooking
If cooking ever feels harder than it should, salt choice is often the missing piece.
Good salt:
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Makes simple ingredients taste intentional
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Helps you season by feel, not fear
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Improves consistency without measuring
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Turns “pretty good” into “why is this so good?”
Once you switch, it’s hard to go back.
Where to Start
If you want to experience the difference for yourself, our Starter Pack is the easiest way in.
It gives you:
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Our kosher sea salt base
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A few core blends we use every day
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A grinder-friendly setup that works across meals
No gimmicks. Just better fundamentals.