At Bonobono, we proudly present Blackthorn, a brand that epitomises the transformative power of salt—an ingredient revered for its ability to elevate the culinary experience.
Blackthorn’s salt is meticulously crafted from clean, unrefined Scottish sea salt, offering a delightful balance of sweetness and a tantalising tang that discerning palates crave. When used thoughtfully, this remarkable ingredient can turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, enhancing flavours and adding a sophisticated touch to every meal.
The Art of Salt Crafting
At Blackthorn, we believe in the exquisite satisfaction of a perfectly sprinkled crystal crunch. We encourage the artful practice of hand-sprinkling, allowing for not only an optimal distribution of flavour but also an immersive sensory experience. Each grain of Blackthorn Salt is a testament to our commitment to purity; we utilise exclusively 100% west coast sea water—nothing more. Our process is devoid of additives, seeding, or bleaching, ensuring that when you taste Blackthorn Salt, you savour the essence of nature itself—the sea, the winds, and the thorns.
Sustainable and Gentle Practices
Our methods are characterised by patience and sustainability. The pristine waters of the Scottish West Coast are delicately trickled through the country’s only graduation thorn tower, a marvel of design that employs the invigorating coastal winds to facilitate the evaporation process essential for salt production. The initial stages of our journey are a harmonious collaboration with nature, relying solely on the West Coast seas and winds.
The striking graduation tower, reminiscent of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale, commands attention as it faces the majestic sea and the mountains of Arran. This formidable structure not only serves a functional purpose but also enhances the visual landscape, significantly accelerating the evaporation process necessary for sea salt production.
A Masterful Process
Sea water is expertly dribbled through 54 wooden taps and intricate channels, which are meticulously monitored and adjusted daily in accordance with the weather. As the water meanders along each twig and thorn, it maximises exposure to the powerful coastal winds and the rare moments of sunshine. This careful interaction fosters the formation of concentrated brine, leading to the exquisite product we present.
The final stage of our process embodies skill and alchemy; the brine is carefully combined with the expertise of our Salters, who apply gentle heat and nothing else, resulting in a salt of unparalleled quality. Years of dedication and refinement have culminated in our unique method of harnessing the elements, yielding a salt we proudly call “the salt of the world” and “for the world.”
A Commitment to Heritage
At Blackthorn Salt, our sense of place and provenance is intrinsic to our identity. Nestled in the West Coast of Scotland, our location serves as both our backdrop and our inspiration. We honour the rich history of Ayrshire salt-making, which once thrived in proximity to our own operations. The legacy of the Newton, Craigie, and Alyson salt pans, alongside the remnants of the Maryburgh salt panhouses, echoes the vital role that salt has played in the daily lives of local communities.
A Rich Legacy in Salt Making
Our Master Salters, Gregorie and Malky, are the custodians of this artisanal tradition, diligently overseeing the pan and the tower to ensure that each batch of salt embodies the highest quality and the perfect “crystal crunch factor.” Gregorie, whose family has been involved in the salt industry for five generations, has breathed life into a dream that was realised in 2019 when Blackthorn Salt was reborn on the Ayrshire coast.
The journey was not without challenges; inspiration struck Gregorie during visits to the impressive graduation towers in Poland and Germany. Despite these structures ceasing food salt production over 50 years ago, their natural beauty and practical design left an indelible mark on his vision.
Innovation and Tradition Unite
After twelve years of dedicated research and numerous trials, the Blackthorn Tower was born. For the first time in history, sea water, rather than rock brine, was gently trickled through a bespoke thorn tower, resulting in the first batch of Blackthorn Salt crystals, hand-harvested on June 20, 2019. Salt had indeed returned home.
Malky, born and raised on the Ayrshire coast, embodies a deep connection to the sea and the salt-making legacy of his ancestors. His journey began with an apprenticeship under Gregorie, immersing him in the art of salt crafting. Today, he meticulously tends to the thorn tower, attuned to the nuances of every tap and twig, and remains vigilant to the rhythms of the sea and weather that influence the emergence of our precious crystals.
At Bonobono, we celebrate Blackthorn not merely as a brand but as a testament to the harmonious relationship between nature, heritage, and innovation in the world of salt.
