Only a few days left to go before the end of April Squares so I thought I’d share something rather different today, using the idiom ‘Under the Big Top’.
Have you worked out what it is? If not take another look at the header as that is a big clue! It is salt. Salt, and in particular the flor de sal, was once Portugal’s white gold and essential to many economic treaties. It can only be harvested by hand. However in modern times salt-making is not as lucrative as it once was, and consequently many of Portugal’s traditional salterns have fallen into decline, and those that remain are mostly harvested by machines. However you will still find commercially active salterns in the Algarve, producing flor de sal. If you want to learn more about this white gold click here to visit a post I wrote a couple of years ago on my Portuguese blog. by the way none of the salt in these pics is flor de sal. It just left overs from the harvest!
I wonder what happens to the left overs? I’m off to check out your other post to see if it is mentioned there. Here’s my post for today:
https://susanrushton.net/2020/04/28/square-tops-monarda/
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I don’t think I have covered it there either. Sorry! The really good stuff I don’t think there are any leftovers, whereas the industrial salt such as that depicted here simply gets washed back into the pans by the rain or lays on the path forever!
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I thought it was clouds! Interesting post. Why is it called flor de sal – do the granules look like flowers? What is the difference between “flor de sal” and simply “sal”? (Sal is probably the refined kind that we put on food, right?) I wanted so much to go to Portugal this year but the pandemic killed my plans. I hope we can go in 2021! Do you live there now? Someday you and I will have to bater um papo em portugues!
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It means flowers of the sea, both the French and Portuguese use this description. Do hope you make it to Portugal in 2021, it is such an amazing country
I don’t live there full time. We tend to spend the winter months only there, but Jo is there full time 🙂
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Interesting post, Becky!
Here’s my square for today: https://outofmywritemind.com/2020/04/27/lettuce-tops-squared/
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Glad you enjoyed 🙂
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Left over salt! I think I learn something new every day on your blog. On mine you will find yet another picture of a chicken… what can I say I’m surrounded by birds! 🙂 https://behindthewillows.com/2020/04/27/portrait-of-chicken-on-top-of-a-straw-bale/
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I love birding photos so i am always happy to see birds in squares 😀
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Salt seems like such a simple commodity but there are so many kinds and colors. Here in Hawaii, they produce white, black and red salts! Here’s my offering today: https://grahamsisland.com/2020/04/27/top-tropical/
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ooh not heard of black before. Is that from the lava?
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Well, the lava enters into the description, but I believe it’s activated charcoal that’s actually responsible for the color.
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ahh . .fascinating. have you tasted it?
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Didn’t have a reply option on your last comment, but I haven’t tasted the Hawaiian salts yet. I’m not sure my palate would appreciate the subtle differences unfortunately.
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I suspect mine won’t either!!
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Great photos. I saw a special on TV that showed the making of sea salt. It was quite interesting.
Here is my entry for today. Enjoy!
https://ceenphotography.com/2020/04/27/april-27-squaretops-antlers-on-top/
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ooh would have liked to have seen that
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White gold indeed! Here’s mine – https://myheart2heart.blog/2020/04/27/top-art-at-the-top/
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ooh and looks like you have gone for gold gold!
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Oh yes! Just realised that now 😃
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Seeing these salt pans is interesting – especially as it is a sight not often seen. The salt from these pans must be of a better quality.
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From some pans certainly, specially those still raked by hand.
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I remember seeing the salt in Portugal.
https://junkboattravels.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-square-challenge.html
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Were you fortunate enough to be there when they harvest?
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I use Cornish Sea Salt, although we don’t use much so it lasts ages.
A local square today for you: https://wp.me/pL5Ms-5eD
Not many left and then you can have a rest 🙂
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Have to say we are the same . . .
Can’t decide if I want the rest or squares to continue this month!
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Well you’ll have time for other challenges (she says innocently 🙄)
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hee hee, guess what i am working on today!!
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So interesting Becky! https://dailymusing57.com/2020/04/27/on-top-of-a-chair-for-april-squares/
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I love seeing how traditional foods are produced
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Could almost be sand or snow too. We refill our salt grinder so infrequently I couldn’t tell you what type is in there!
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fascinating how they look so similar – sand in the grinder though doesn’t sound good!
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https://geriatrixfotogallerie.wordpress.com/2020/04/27/sitting-on-top-2/
Portugal as well…
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oh how fabulous . . were you in Alentejo?
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Several times, with the camper we love to drive round the Iberian Peninsula
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Have to say I am feeling very tempted to do the same next spring.
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