{"product_id":"oryx-baleni-salt-bucket","title":"A290 - Oryx Baleni Salt Bucket 1kg \/ 5kg","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThere is a place in South Africa where salt is only hand-harvested by women.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt’s called Baleni, in Limpopo Province.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHere, a natural saline hot spring seeps mineral-rich water into the surrounding soil. During the dry winter months, that water leaves behind a crust of salt-enriched earth.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThat is what the women harvest.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe process has remained largely unchanged for centuries. Evidence suggests salt has been produced at this site for between 1,000 and 2,000 years.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWhen the crust forms, women scrape the salt-encrusted soil by hand. The soil is mixed with water and filtered through handmade clay and plant-fibre filters. The brine is collected, then boiled slowly over open wood fires until only salt crystals remain.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe site holds ritual and spiritual significance within the community. Knowledge of the process is passed from mother to daughter.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eHistorically, only women were permitted to harvest the salt.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eToday, it remains small-scale and community-based. It provides direct income to local women and represents local empowerment rather than industrial employment.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eWe are honored to be one of the suppliers of Baleni Salt to the public.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Oryx Desert Salt","offers":[{"title":"1 Kg","offer_id":51318046130459,"sku":"A290","price":395.4,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true},{"title":"5 Kg","offer_id":51318046195995,"sku":"A292","price":1872.5,"currency_code":"ZAR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0982\/9377\/6667\/files\/9.1_-_S212_-_COARSE_BUCKET_6KG_a9efcfd9-81a3-406f-b229-fb3c8d060363.webp?v=1774981709","url":"https:\/\/oryxdesertsalt.co.za\/products\/oryx-baleni-salt-bucket","provider":"Oryx Desert Salt - South Africa Shop","version":"1.0","type":"link"}