How to Choose a Himalayan Salt Supplier

Most Himalayan salt looks identical in a photograph. The difference between a
good supplier and an expensive lesson shows up in the paperwork, the tolerance
and the second order.

Nine questions worth asking

1. Do you mine and process, or do you buy and re-sell? Both models can work,

but only one can tell you which seam a lot came from.

1. Can you share a recent third-party lab report? Heavy metals, NaCl assay,

moisture. Dated within the last twelve months.

1. What granulation tolerance do you guarantee? "Coarse" is not an answer —

see our granulation guide.

1. What is your moisture spec at packing? Ask what happens if it is exceeded.
2. What packaging do you use for food-contact goods? Liner type and bag spec.
3. What are your lead times at my volume? Ask separately for first order and

repeat orders.

1. Which Incoterms do you quote? And what is excluded.
2. Will you accept a pre-shipment inspection? A supplier who says no is

telling you something.

1. What is your policy on a rejected lot? Get it in writing before you pay.

*Figure 1 — A normal bulk order has six stages. Any supplier who wants to skip
samples or inspection is compressing the two stages that protect you.*

Read the sample properly

When samples arrive, do more than look at them:

• Sieve them if you have the equipment, or at least measure a spoonful

against a ruler.

• Dissolve some in warm water — cloudiness points to clay or dust.
• Leave a portion in an open jar for a fortnight in your own climate. Caking

behaviour at your humidity is the test that matters, not the one at origin.

• Run it through your actual grinder or filling line. Bench tests miss jams.

Price is the last question, not the first

A quote is only comparable once you know grade, tolerance, packaging and terms.
Compare on landed cost per usable kilogram — after rejects, after freight,
after any re-screening you will have to do yourself. The cheapest FOB price often
loses on that measure.

Asian Salts operates at the mine and quotes FOB Port Qasim or CIF to your port.
Tell us your grade and volume and we will send a spec sheet, the current lab
report and a sample within the week.