Black salt
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Black salt (Hindi काला नमक kala namak) is an unrefined table salt with a strong sulphurous taste derived from the mixture of sulphur compounds with it. Although it is indeed blackish as mined, the powder is more a light purple color. Chemically, black salt is potassium chloride. It tastes less salty than common table salt. Black salt is mined from quarries in Central Pakistan. It is used extensively in Indian cuisine as a condiment as well as in ayurvedic medicine and is commonly sold in the form of a fine, almost completely odorless powder. It is also available in crystal form that must be dissolved in water or ground. It is often used by people with high blood pressure or on low-salt diets because it does not contain significant amounts of sodium. It is also believed to relieve both heartburn and flatulence.
Chemically, "black salt" sold in India is almost pure sodium chloride, with traces of iron which probably provides the purple hue. On dissolving in water, an olive green coloured solution is obtained, and a small quantity of undissolved black specks. On dissolving the specks in dilute aqua regia, the following trace elements were found, zinc, nickel,iron (most abundant), magnesium, manganese, copper, titanium, aluminium, calcium and sodium.
Black salt is also the name for two types of salt used in occult practices as means of protection. One type of black salt consists mainly of burnt rue, graveyard dirt, and crushed sea salt. It should not be eaten. Another type is made by blending regular salt with the scrapings from cast-iron cookware. It is used not only for protection but also to cast hexes.
[edit] References
- The Elemental Encyclopedia Of 5000 Spells by Judika Illes, ISBN 0007164653
- Blacksalt in Ayurveda
[I analysed some black salt purchased in India. It contained virtually pure sodium chloride. reference: http://www.gourmetindia.com/cgi-bin/ikonboard/ikonboard.cgi?s=455109b84657ffff;act=ST;f=5;t=2762006]
Confusion may have arisen because potash was made from crude 'black salts' as mentioned in Webster's dictionary 1913 '. (Black"salt`er) n. One who makes crude potash, or black salts. Black salts. (Black" salts`) Crude potash. De Colange ... ' Needless to say the 'black salts' were made, and not mined, which would suggest it is not the same as Indian black salt.
