Saline Culcasi
Historical Background
For over 100 years, our company has been producing and marketing artisanal sea salt from Trapani. The salt is the most important distinctive feature of the territory of Western Sicily, the fulcrum of identity that has always indisputably characterized it. The Culcasi family is the salt family: for four generations we have been committed to keeping this production tradition alive.
It all began with the purchase of a salt pan which had been damaged by a flood. It was recovered, set right and then tastefully and strategically enriched. It was the 1960s and the salt marshes were overrun by mud generated by the incessant rains, and it had become virtually unusable. The Culcasi family believed in this intrepid gamble, saving the salt flats from becoming a secure landfill. Time has proved us right.
The Trapani sea salt extraction activity is carried out in one of the most beautiful places in Sicily, at times enchanted, the natural habitat of the suggestive pink flamingos and numerous other species of aquatic birds. Salt pans and small windmills alternate, with the sea in the background, merging into the sky. There is a touch of magic and everything takes on picturesque contours: it deserves to be immortalized, especially at sunset.
This unique place, made up of salt pans tending towards blue in colour, sometimes white but also red, separated by thin strips of land with piles of dazzling white salt in plain sight, is therefore the background to a history of work and respect for customs handed down over time. Here, environment, life, effort and commitment become one, giving prestige to a city which is proud of its territory, history and salt culture.
OUR FLAVOURED SALTS
Concentrates of pure essences from western Sicily
We have decided to dedicate an important part of our work to the preparation of a precious, typical and artisanal flavoured salt. We produce and pack it following the ancient traditions of our territory that have been handed down from generation to generation, adding spices and aromas that we obtain strictly by hand from typical Sicilian products.
Among our excellences we include the jars of flavoured “Fior di sale“ whose realization requires care, attention and passion. We do not use ready-made preparations: we peel every single citrus fruit and process it by hand. The drying phase at a low temperature is decisive as it allows the essential oils contained in the peel to be retained. This product will allow you to flavour dishes and dress salads, fish, meats and broths.
The flavoured salts with spices and aromas that we prepare with exclusively Sicilian aromatic herbs deserve a separate chapter. They come from a small organic farm in our area that works them wisely and this allows us to guarantee the standard of craftsmanship of our healthy products: it is just like a home-made flavoured salt. In this way you will add that extra taste to your dishes and at the table you will be able to amaze friends and relatives.
The birth of the sea salt
Six steps linked to each other. A long, laborious and meticulous process carried out by the skilled hands of the salt workers, following memory and legend.
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1
Cleaning of the tanks (in winter)
![Cleaning of the tanks (in winter), Saline Culcasi]()
The salt pan, which is filled with water after the final processing, must be emptied with pumps, cleaned, and have its banks levelled and rearranged in March, thus repairing any damage created by the period of inactivity in winter.
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2
Filling the pools
![Filling the pools, Saline Culcasi]()
Taking advantage of the tides (once also thanks to the strength of the windmill), the filling of the pools begins with decanting operations between them, all of which have specific names and uses.
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3
Cultivation of salt
![Cultivation of salt, Saline Culcasi]()
Once in the salting tanks, the water begins to evaporate and the salt finally crystallizes, to be ready to be crushed and collected in late July and August.
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4
Salt collection
![Salt collection, Saline Culcasi]()
The salt is placed in piles by an expert labourer, the so-called salt workers, in the spaces placed in front of the salt-pans. It is then covered with tiles that protect it from bad weather and dirt.
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5
Natural drying
![Natural drying, Saline Culcasi]()
Of course, first the salt must dry, thus eliminating any small residues of water that may exist. This phase is completely natural and takes place thanks to the sun's rays.
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6
Packaging
![Packaging, Saline Culcasi]()
Once dry, the salt is ground and packaged very carefully, the bags are mechanically packaged while the jars are filled and capped manually.
Enjoy an experiencea
Panorami mozzafiato, natura dilagante, gli antichi mulini a vento, tour guidati ed eccellenti degustazioni: perché non approfittare delle visite alla Salina Culcasi?
duration: 75 min
Visit to the salt museum with a walk along the banks among the production pools of the Culcasi salt pans
You will discover the ancient history of the salt pans, enjoying a direct experience together with our guides
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The Salt Museum
Thanks to a guided tour, the guests of the museum retrace the steps and events of a history spanning centuries and centuries, but always current.
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