Northumberland woman launches hand-harvested sea salt from Craster
A Northumberland woman is launching her own hand-harvested sea salt from Craster, with sustainability at its heart.
Artisan salt maker Isobel Thompson has become a familiar sight in Craster as she walks to the shore and back again with her bottles of sea water.
The trips are part of her efforts to craft delicious sea salt defined by the Whin Sill, a strip of volcanic rock that emerges at Craster shore, which creates a unique, sharp flavour.
Originally from the region and passionate about local food and environment, Isobel spent time living in Orkney before returning to Northumberland and deciding the county’s coastline would be an ideal place to create a locally sourced sea salt.
She said: “I love food. I love the coast. I love being able to cook with local ingredients.
“When you get to that very last bit of seasoning, that last bit of salt, you have no idea where it’s come from.
"Northumberland has such a rich heritage when it comes to sea salt which has been lost a little bit so it’s lovely to be able to bring that back to life in such a tasty way.
“I picked that spot above all others because it’s where the Whin Sill emerges.
“The land itself gives it flavour. Salt harvested here will taste different from salt harvested in Cornwall or Scotland because of that geology.”
For Isobel who has a background working for environmental charities, sustainability is at the heart of her new brand Northern Sea Salt.
She works in small batches with no machinery, crafting every salt crystal with care. The salt is also formed using a mix of solar and low energy evaporation methods to keep its footprint low.
“Everything from start to finish, I do myself by hand, so collecting the water, harvesting it, filtering it, packaging it,” she explained.
“You’ve got this wonderful landscape and whatever I do should not negatively affect it or should enhance it in some way.”
Isobel is now preparing to launch her salt at local markets over the winter period.
Visitors to the Alnmouth Christmas Market on November 28 will be among the first to buy the local sea salt, followed by visitors to the Made Up North Market on December 6 and the Berwick Butter Market on December 12.