Salt

Odola

Well-Known Member
Thinking about "who makes what" in the paper discussion,

I came upon the realisation that sea elves would cook out salt from sea water for the preservation of fish and similar uses.

When human refugees come there they would pick this up and establish a small sea salt enterprise - trading salt could be what Earendil and Elwing and their community do live on.

We do not know if generally elves away from the sea do use much salt - they might not. But there migh be a salty sping in Doriath which cover its needs.

Still humans do need quite a lot of salt to preserve meat for the winter and other purposes.

Dwarves will of course use rock salt (halite) and trade that too - but that might be "as dear as its weight in gold" (as it traditionally was).

[Salt has also a magical quality fo humans as it is old "to protect from evil" like it protects meat from spoiling. It is used in one way of making holy water in the Catholic tradition (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessed_salt) and in warding of evil charms in some folk customs. Sam always carrying a box of salt with him refers to this ancient idea - he is the least corruptable one.]

As such producing salt would be a noble occupation.
 
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