THE SALT BOOK: Indonesia - Kusamba, Bali

Another ancient salt making site in Indonesia is located on the island of Bali. Usually renowned for tourism, away from the beach resorts lies Kusamba Beach. The beach of black sand stretches for kilometers and it is here where some of the last salt makers of Bali exist.

One of the most under-threat salt sites covered so far in this project, here only a handful of families still make salt the traditional way. Previously the entire stretch of the beach was lined with salt workers fields.

Little has changed in their method for centuries apart from the addition of rubber sea water carriers rather than the traditional leaf. Unfortunately in less than one generation the salt makers of Kusamba beach will be no more as the younger generations have no interest following in their parents footsteps.

Behind the beach the black sand is smoothed out in to a flat 'field'. Salt water is collected directly from the sea and sprayed on to the surface of the sand in the early morning. Then in the afternoon the now dried crusty surface is scraped up and collected inside a small hut where addition salt water is poured on to the top of the sandy salt mixture.

Using a filter system of bamboo tubes the salt water slowly drains through the sand and strong clear brine flows out collected in carved wooden containers. This brine is then poured on evapouration tables and left to dry in the sun. Depending on the season the salt, which is bright white and very pure, can be collected within hours.