Traditional Production and Quality

The Isle of Noirmoutier is famous for its sea salt. Two-thirds of it is sea marsh. Situated in the Bay of Biscay in the Vendee region, the Isle is connected to the continent by the Gois Causeway. The sunny, almost tropical climate and constant gentle dry winds that assist evaporation make Noirmoutier ideal for producing it. The Isle is a national nature preserve and environmentally protected.

Atlantic waters flow into Noirmoutier's rectangular, hard sun-baked man-made clay pools. Two days of evaporation from sun and wind create large coarse crystals called 'sel gros'. The crystals are light gray from the clay. They are harvested by the 'saunier' or salt harvester using long rakes to gather the crystals. Using strong, swift strokes the saunier draws crystals to one side of the pool. Every two days the saunier collects small amounts and adds it to the pile that becomes several feet high as the harvest season progresses.