Italkali is one of Italy's leading companies specialising in the extraction and processing of rock salt, with a history deeply connected to Sicily's underground mineral resources. For more than fifty years, it has brought to the table salt originating from ancient natural deposits. The mines of Petralia, Racalmuto and Realmonte contain salts with different characteristics, reflecting the geological and mining heritage of Sicily.
Buy Italkali products online: natural rock salt from Sicilian mines
Italkali – Società Italiana Sali Alcalini – specialises in the extraction, processing and marketing of rock salt for food and industrial use. The heart of its production lies in the Sicilian mines of Petralia, Racalmuto and Realmonte. Here, salt is extracted from vast underground deposits formed millions of years ago, when the waters of the ancient Mediterranean created the formations that are now preserved beneath the island.
The rock salt is subsequently processed through mechanical crushing, selection and screening to obtain different grain sizes suitable for a variety of uses. The natural characteristics of each deposit remain central to the finished product. The different mineral features of the three areas make it possible to offer salts with distinctive profiles, each closely connected to the place from which it is extracted.
Salt preserved in the heart of Sicily
The formation of Sicily’s salt deposits dates back approximately six million years, when a long natural process of evaporation and crystallisation of seawater created extensive deposits of rock salt. Every crystal tells an ancient geological story. Layers of rock and gypsum preserved these deposits underground until their eventual extraction.
Today, Italkali operates three important mining sites in Sicily. Petralia lies in the heart of the Madonie, Racalmuto in the Sicilian hinterland between Agrigento and Caltanissetta, while Realmonte is located on the Agrigento coast near Porto Empedocle and the Scala dei Turchi. Three different areas give rise to three expressions of Sicilian salt.
Extraction, selection and processing
Rock salt is extracted directly from the mines, where modern technologies make it possible to reach and work the salt layers while preserving their natural characteristics. The journey from the mine to the packaging is based mainly on physical and mechanical processes. Crushing and screening allow the crystals to be selected and the required grain size to be obtained.
Particular attention is also paid to selecting the raw material. Control and optical sorting systems help identify crystals suitable for different food applications. Purity and consistency of the crystals are central to Italkali’s processing methods. The result is a naturally dry salt that is practical and easy to use in everyday cooking.
Italkali products selected for you
The selection includes Racalmuto salt, Petralia salt and Realmonte salt, three products extracted from three different Sicilian deposits. Origin is what gives each salt its distinctive identity. Racalmuto salt has a pronounced mineral and savoury character and is particularly versatile with meat, soups and richly flavoured dishes, while Petralia salt has a more delicate profile, making it suitable for fish, seafood, white meats and even sweet preparations.
Realmonte salt is distinguished by its characteristic greyish appearance and a different mineral composition from the other selections. Three salts offer different nuances for different preparations. It can accompany vegetables, pulses, salads and sauces, while Racalmuto and Petralia salts provide options ranging from more robust dishes to preparations requiring a more balanced level of seasoning.
Petralia, Racalmuto and Realmonte
The Petralia mine lies within a mountain reaching approximately 1,100 metres above sea level and is considered one of Europe’s most significant salt deposits. In the heart of the Madonie, salt is extracted directly from the mountain. The natural purity of its crystals has made this site one of the key centres of Italkali production.
Racalmuto is another important deposit in the Sicilian hinterland, where the company has introduced modern extraction and selection systems. Technology and natural resources meet beneath the Sicilian landscape. Salt intended for food use undergoes controls and selection processes designed to obtain crystals suitable for everyday use.
Realmonte is located on Sicily’s southern coast, a few kilometres from Agrigento and Porto Empedocle. Its vast deposit extends beneath one of the most distinctive areas of the Agrigento coastline. The presence of different mineral components contributes to the characteristic appearance of the salt extracted from this mine.
A natural resource from Sicily
Sicilian mineral salt is very different from sea salt produced through evaporation in coastal salt pans. Here, the salt is extracted directly from ancient deposits preserved underground. Its origin reveals a less visible side of Sicily, made up of mountains, tunnels and vast salt formations that bear witness to the geological history of the Mediterranean.
Through the mines of Petralia, Racalmuto and Realmonte, Italkali continues to enhance the value of this important natural resource. Three deposits, three salts and one Sicilian origin. The selection shows how even an essential ingredient such as salt can offer different characteristics depending on the territory from which it comes.