Skip to main content

Jacobsen Salt Company: A Pinch of Perfection

jacobsen salt company smash
Image used with permission by copyright holder
You might not think about it, but not all salts are created equal. As with most other goods, there are varying degrees of quality in the humble sodium chloride molecule, and on the continuum of salt quality, the stuff that Ben Jacobsen coaxes out of the coastal waters of Oregon is most definitely at the higher end.

Even if you think you don’t care about the quality of the salt you eat, a pinch of this stuff will change your mind. It’s got this gloriously delicate crunch to it, a superb flavor that strikes a balance between pure salinity and subtle minerality, and these large, dazzling white flakes that sparkle like tiny edible jewels.

Recommended Videos

After seeing and tasting this stuff, it’s actually hard to believe that Jacobsen Salt Co. is only two years old. Your senses lead you to believe this salt is the product of some age-old technique that’s been perfected over the course of a couple centuries, but in reality, founder Ben Jacobsen just nailed the recipe.

bnjcbsnLike most of us, Jacobsen had no idea there was such a thing as good salt and bad salt a few years ago. It wasn’t until he left the Sates and moved to Norway for work that he discovered the world of salt was much, much wider than Mortons. This was the beginning of his love affair.

Years later, when he returned to Portland, he started experimenting. Once or twice a week, he’d hop in his truck and drive to the coast to collect a few buckets of sea water, then drive it back to PDX to filter it, boil it, and make it into salt. For the better part of a year Jacobsen repeated this process, and visited dozens of different spots along the Oregon coast in search of ocean water that produced the purest salt — a search that eventually led him to Netarts Bay.

“There weren’t any books or guides on the subject, so I just had to figure it out on my own,” he tells us. “It took quite a bit of trial and error, but it definitely payed off in the end.”

Ever since then, it’s been a whirlwind. Within months, the fruits of Jacobsen’s backyard brine boiling operation were in high demand, so he moved into an old oyster farm in Netarts to streamline production and expand operations. Now, just two short years later, he’s already on cusp of opening up a new space in downtown Portland.

And of course, while top-notch sea salt is still JSC’s chief export, the company has expanded it’s product offerings to include things like taffy, soap, and a variety of different flavored salts that are unlike anything you’ve ever tried. We highly recommend the smoked ghost chili flavor.

Find out more here.

Drew Prindle
Drew is our resident tech nerd. He’s spent most of his life trying to be James Bond, so naturally he’s developed an…
Skrewball and Yung Gravy are collaborating to “Give Thanks and Get Basted” this Thanksgiving
Skrewball and Yung Gravy want to help you get "basted" this Thanksgiving
Skrewball

In a collaboration you didn't realize you needed, well-known peanut butter whiskey brand Skrewball Whiskey is partnering with rapper Yung Gravy to "Give Thanks and Get Basted" this Holiday season. And yes, you read that right. Get basted, not wasted.
Skrewball Baster Set

To encourage getting basted around your friends and family instead of the awkwardness of getting wasted (as long as you don't overindulge with this peanut butter whiskey), Skrewball Whiskey and Yung Gravy are releasing a limited-edition Skrewball Baster Set. The set includes seven 50ml Skrewball shot basters, a wooden baster holder, and a gravy boat to (for some reason) fill with Skrewball Peanut Butter Whiskey.

Read more
Hidden Barn releases its popular Madeira Finished Bourbon
This is the third release of Hidden Barn's popular Madeira Finished Bourbon
Hidden Barn

If you’re a fan of unique finished whiskeys, you’ll be stoked to see what Hidden Barn Bourbon is releasing. It’s the distillery’s third annual Madeira finished bourbon, and it’s called Hidden Barn Perfect Harmony because it’s all about balance between the sweet corn flavor of the whiskey and the added Madeira wine flavors.
Hidden Barn Perfect Harmony Madeira Finished Bourbon

It starts with a bourbon whiskey made with a mash bill of 70% corn, 20% rye, and 10% malted barley. It was first matured in charred American oak barrels for six years before being finished for seven months in Madeira casks.

Read more
The battle of brews: Pour over vs. drip coffee explained
Explore extraction method, customization, and flavor differences
pour over coffee

Drip coffee has been a staple in households for years. It uses an automatic brewing system that requires only coffee grounds and water. This method is ideal for making coffee for several people at once; chances are this is the method your parents and grandparents use every morning.

Although drip coffee is the most well-known form of coffee brewing, various other methods can also result in a bold brew. Pour-over coffee is another popular option that uses a manual, handcrafted brewing method that involves pouring hot water over coffee grounds in a filter to create a custom cup of coffee. Both drip coffee and pour-over coffee deliver a great cup of coffee, but each has a unique brewing method. Understanding their differences is critical before determining which brewing method works best for you.
What is drip coffee?

Read more