Talk:Black salt

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Contents 1 Comment 1 2 Article Complete Cleanup 3 Disambiguation 4 why is it called black salt? 5 "Black Salt is also used in Occult practices to stave off evil forces and break curses"

[edit] Comment 1

Hmm. about that sulphurous taste...
I followed the link to sulphur, and it claimed that metallic sulphur is both tasteless and odourless. :-/ Cimon Avaro on a pogo stick 05:59 28 May 2003 (UTC)

It's usually hydrogen sulfite that causes a 'sulphurous' taste. The taste is sort of what you'd imagine a rotten egg would taste like if you ever smelled one.... If that gives you a sense-memory... -- Someone else 06:08 28 May 2003 (UTC)

Yes, elemental sulfur is odorless, but many of its compounds are higly aromatic. No, it isn't H2S - it must be a mix of non-volatile sulfur compounds, possibly iron sulphide, because it doesn't smell the way it tastes. If you've ever smelled vulcanic gasses, it tastes similar to the way those smell. Other spices with a sulphurous taste include asafoetida and, to a much lesser degree, carmelized garlic. Mkweise 06:27 28 May 2003 (UTC)

I spent some time trying to find reputable sources citing its chemical composition, with no luck. It would be nice to know exactly what sulfur compounds it contains. An indian friend mentioned that each region's Kala Namak is actually different in taste, owing to the local variation in composition. Jorgenumata (talk) 02:58, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Article Complete Cleanup

This article, as fascinating as it is, needs a clean up. There is repetition and no real structure to the whole article. The reference section is frankly appauling: you can't be so informal on Wikipedia. The whole article must be:

a) Revised for repetiton

b) Made to comply with Wikipedia article standards

c) Made into Sub-topic format

d) Have references revised

I understand that it is easy tp tell other people to do things, however unfortunately I have no knowledge in the field so may not be able to help as much as one could. I will try my best to improve it Bhaveer 21:17, 17 November 2006 (UTC)

I read the original offerings and was interested that black salt (from India) may contain potassium chloride (rather than or additionally to) the usual sodium chloride. However, the original script said that people were taking black salt for medical reasons. However, I was under the impression that salt from volcanic sources was most likely sodium rather than potassium chloide, as sodium comes from volcanoes and potassium from rocks. As I returned from India this year (2006) with two bags of black salt for culinary purposes, I decided to analyse it. I am an analytical chemist with 35 years experience and have academic qualifications including an M.Sc. What I found is stated in the text. I don't know of any better reference than that. You now have to decide what needs to be done. Not only for the good and reputation of this fine project, but to inform people that thinking black salt contains potassium instead of sodium could seriously upset their health!!! I wonder if people would take legal action against you? If you wish to discuss this further, leave a contact address, please. Waaza 27th Dec 2006

Revised the article for repetition and to comply with Wikipedia standards. Since this article seems to be about Indian Black Salt, I eliminated the references to black salt as used in voodoo (wicca?), and am creating a disambiguation page for it and the movie. I wasn't sure what to do with the chemical analysis section, as it seems that it was based on a single sample of black salt, and might not represent trace minerals found in all black salt. Gobonobo 17:00, 11 February 2007 (UTC)

[edit] Disambiguation

Needs a disambiguation page, as there's a movie in development called Black Salt. Dessydes 17:30, 20 January 2007 (UTC)

Created a disambiguation page, and in doing so, removed references in this article dealing with black salt used in Occult practices, as these are two different things. Steamroller Assault (talk) 12:05, 22 December 2007 (UTC)

I would change the word 'sulphuric' to 'sulphurous', as this would be more scientifically correct. I would make the point that people only believe it to contain potassium chloride whereas modern analysis has shown at least one specimen to contain only sodium chloride. Waaza 15th Feb 2007

[edit] why is it called black salt?

that might be a good piece of information to add.

[edit] "Black Salt is also used in Occult practices to stave off evil forces and break curses"

Is this really the same type of black salt as the pink, food additive, black salt? Perhaps someone, who knows, could answer, or if it isn't could edit to clarify, or start a new "occ0ult" black salt page? Jellyboots

They are two different items. I removed the occult references and created a disambiguation page. I haven't started a new page for the occult black salt, since I'm not an expert. Some webpages mention it as being salt with either black ink or iron cauldron scrapings added to it. Definitely not edible. Steamroller Assault (talk) 12:05, 22 December 2007 (UTC)