Castro Marim seeks EU protected status for its salt and flor de sal

In Castro Marim, in the Algarve, flor de sal forms only under specific heat conditions, mainly between July and September, when a thin layer of crystals appears on the surface of the salt pans and is hand-harvested before it disappears. The salinas cover about 30% of the Sapal Natural Reserve of Castro Marim and Vila Real de Santo António, combining traditional manual harvesting with larger mechanised operations, and also support significant bird populations. A national decision has now favoured the application by the Cooperativa Terras de Sal to register both the Sal de Castro Marim and its flor de sal as Protected Designation of Origin products, a step towards EU-wide recognition.