1. Rock Salt Mines:
* Cheshire: The majority of English salt is mined from rock salt deposits in Cheshire, in the northwest of England. This salt is formed from ancient evaporated seawater, which has been compressed and solidified over millions of years. Cheshire is home to the UK's largest salt mine, which produces millions of tonnes of salt annually.
2. Sea Salt:
* Coastal areas: While not as significant as rock salt, sea salt is also produced in England, particularly along the coasts. This salt is harvested by evaporating seawater in shallow pools. The salt is then collected, dried, and refined.
Other sources:
* Imported salt: Some salt is also imported into England from other countries, particularly for specialized uses.
It's worth noting that while the majority of English salt comes from Cheshire, the salt produced there is often sold as "sea salt" even though it originated as rock salt. This is due to the fact that the salt is refined to a very high quality and has a similar texture and taste to sea salt.