What is the difference between sea salt and regular table salt?

Answer 1

Sea salt is made by evaporating seawater. As such, it has many more trace elements than (pure) mined table salt. Sea salt comes from many different places around the world, and some sources are more prized than others for their flavor or color. It may be coarse or it may be finely ground.

Regular table salt is pretty close to being pure salt, usually with the addition of iodine (at least in the USA) as a needed trace element for human well-being. It's usually mined from salt deposits and may in some cases be re-distilled/filtered for purification purposes.

I've read the following books, from the library. If you're interested in learning more, these are pretty good reads.

Answer 2

Table salt is usually mined, cleaned and ground into fine crystals. Iodine may be added, as a nutrient.

Sea salt is just that, salt claimed by drying sea water. It is a coarser salt, and will contain other trace minerals. Sea salts can have subtle, yet distinct tastes, depending on where they come from.

Answer 3

regular table salt is chemically processed and has synthetic and toxic anti caking agents added to it. Sea salt is all natural

Answer 4

sea salt....actually comes from the evaporation of sea water.

regular table salt...excavated from salt mines on land.

Answer 5

Sea salt is wayyyyyy saltier. Even Been to the ocean?

Answer 6

Sea salt is still in the ocean! ;-)
Once dried and cleaned, it is the same stuff!!! Sodium Chloride

Answer 7

sea salt is course and totally different taste

Answer 8

table salt is processed and refined and much much finer than sea salt, which is thick and coarse.