What Makes Up Fleur De Saint Matisse Bracelet
Fluoride known as fleur de sel is a sodium-based salt which forms as a fine, delicate crust on the exposed surface of water as it evaporates slowly. Fleur de sels were gathered from seawater in ancient days, and has been traditionally used as an antiseptic and a healing salve. Today, it is still used extensively in cooking and baking due to its remarkable cosmetic and culinary properties. The salts are often used to treat cavities, tooth decay, periodontal disease, mouth sores, gingivitis, hemorrhoids, acne, varicose veins, warts, boils, bronchitis, and respiratory conditions like bronchitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, tuberculosis, and asthma. It can even be used to whiten wine.
There are several distinctive characteristics of fleur de sel that make it very popular among household cooks and chefs. Its texture and color give it a silvery appearance. Its light flavor gives it a subtle hint of eucalyptus. Its salty taste reminds one of the ocean, but does not have any overpowering flavors. These traits make fleur de sel ideal for use in a wide range of cuisines and cooking styles.
The fleur de sel’s composition is facilitated by the evaporation process. Salt is evaporated from seawater and carried through porous surfaces to generate the saltiness of the fleur de sel. This component is usually derived from chloride (Ca++), calcium (Ca++ +) or bromide (Broxalic acid) sources. In the traditional process, guraridine (Gouna Vilantae) and potassium (Kassium hydroxide) are added as impurities. Other impurities may include manganese (Mg++), sulfates and nitrates.
The final step in the evaporation process adds the fine salt minerals to the mixture. Fine salt impurities are frequently used to improve the chemical structure of fleur de sel because it helps reduce the rate of evaporation of water-soluble components. Common fine salt minerals used in traditional recipes include kosher salt ( Kosherche salt ), calcium (Ca++), and magnesium (Mg++). In addition, some additional elements are added to achieve the desired mineral composition of the fleur de sel.
Most modern evaporation processes have improved upon this original method. While the traditional method involves boiling water with kosher salt in a container to generate the steam, modern formulations often include activated carbon and super cool vapor compression. The result is much less evaporation of water-soluble compounds and more deposition of ions and salts onto the crystals. Not only do the crystals harden on contact with moist conditions, but they also precipitate as fine salt crystals. In fact, the term “levinized salt” is often used to refer to this process.
Because fleur de sel is primarily obtained from fossilized marine material, materials that are highly porous, it is not uncommon to find fleur de sel sourced from fossilized seaweed. Sea clay was a major part of the ecosystem prior to development of cities and towns. As a result, there is often significant mineral concentration in natural seaweed harvesting. The harvested particles are often washed and re-refined to create fine salt fleur de sel products for topical application.
In certain areas of the world, natural Dead Sea salt is used for fleur de sel. Because the Dead Sea is essentially contaminated with millions of years’ worth of ocean debris and pollution, the water itself is heavily contaminated. As a result, the minerals present in the seawater are highly de-emulsified as a result of evaporation. However, because seawater is rarely chemically treated, the mineral content is generally much higher than that found in inland lakes or oceans. As a result, the seawater fleur de sel products are much more expensive and are typically used in higher concentrations than their inland cousins.
Due to the fact that the fleur de sel texture is determined by the molecular weight of the minerals present in the seawater, the minerals are light or even transparent when they are freshly harvested. As they age and are washed away by rain and sea water, the minerals take on a silver sheen or a bluish tint. This process of mineral alteration can take place on a molecular level and leave fleur de sel with either a silvery or clear texture. Regardless of the type of seawater fleur de sel is made from, the fleur de sel texture can be dramatically different depending on how it was acquired, since certain minerals will stay on better than others once they are washed away. Many jewelry makers prefer to use clay based minerals for their fleur de sel due to their durability and relative lightness.