Sea Crystal Salt (Kallu Uppu) – 1kg

About Sea Crystal Salt (Kallu Uppu) – 1kg

Somewhere along the way, the kallu uppu jaadi in the corner of the kitchen was replaced by a plastic shaker of fine white table salt. It is convenient, but ask anyone who makes maangai oorugai or nartham kuzhambu the old way and they will tell you something changed.

You notice it in small things. The pickle does not hold the way paati's did. The brine for nellikai or lemon looks cloudy. The recipe in the family notebook simply says "kallu uppu" and you are not sure what to buy.

This is that salt. Kallu uppu is sea water dried in the sun into large, uneven crystals, and left unrefined and unbleached, so it looks grey-white rather than snow-white. The big crystals dissolve slowly, which is exactly what pickles, brines and long-cooked kuzhambu need. For everyday cooking, dissolve a handful in a little water and keep the salt water ready next to the stove, the way Tamil kitchens always have, or run some through the mixie for a finer salt.

Why families pick this:

• Sun-dried sea crystal salt, unrefined and unbleached
• The traditional salt for oorugai, brining and kuzhambu
• 1kg pack at an everyday price

The salt is the one ingredient that goes into every dish you cook, every single day. It is worth getting right.

Add a 1kg pack of kallu uppu to your cart and bring the old jaadi back to your kitchen.

Frequently asked questions

What is kallu uppu in English?

Sea crystal salt, also called rock-crystal sea salt or coarse sea salt. It is sun-dried sea water in large crystals.

How do I use kallu uppu for daily cooking?

Dissolve a handful in water and use the salt water for sambar, rasam and kuzhambu, or grind a small batch in the mixie for a finer salt.

Is kallu uppu good for pickles?

Yes. It is the salt traditionally used for Tamil pickles and brines because the large crystals dissolve slowly.

How should I store it?

In a ceramic or glass jar with a dry wooden spoon. Salt absorbs moisture, so keep the lid closed.

Do you deliver outside Chennai?

Yes. We ship from Chennai to addresses across India.