Traditional VATEL sea salt is harvested by hand in the Ria Formosa nature reserve on the Portuguese coast of the Algarve. Salt pools are exposed to the sun and dried crystalline salt is harvested by hand with a large wooden rake. After that it is transported to a local factory and crushed, selected by hand and packed in bags. This salt is not processed in any way and does not contain any additives. As a result, sea salt has a brilliant white opaque color, but is not purified.