Fiji Sea Salt Journey
Jone Waitaiti is a PADI Dive and Freediving Instructor and owner of Dive Academy Fiji and Viani Bay Resort.
He is a marine conservationist who ventured into a diversified business by setting up Viani Bay Resort and created Fiji Sea Salt. With over 20 years of diving experience, he had a mission to share his relationship with the ocean to others.
With the decline in business due to the outbreak of Covid-19, he started a long planned project to revive and modernize the Fijian tradition of harvesting sea salt. After a year of experimentation, he is the first and only manufacturer of Fleur de Sel (the cream of salt and highest grade of sea salt) in Fiji and has introduced Fiji Sea Salt which is infused with natural herbs and spices.
Mr Waitaiti said the quality of the salt is defined by the quality and the processing of the water. Fiji Sea Salt is harvested from the crystal-clear, deep ocean waters of the volcanic island of Taveuni, the Garden Island of Fiji.
“It is then reduced, filtered, sundried and hand packed to achieve its unique island taste,’’ he said. During the whole process, the water never touches the ground. Fleur de Sel is manually harvested when the salt crystals float up to the surface during the evaporation process.
Mr Waititi said for the flavored options, Fiji Sea Salt has infused with natural herbs and spices. “Again, a manual process, during which the flavors and colors of the herbs or spices enter the salt crystals to create a superior culinary experience,” he said.
He also initiated CleanupTaveuni and started a coral nursery and a seaweed farm where local volunteers and guests side by side contribute to the conservation of the marine environment.
Fiji Sea Salt is the only salt that uses these techniques, which ensure that no impurities stay in the salt and where the taste is much more intense compared to mixes with dried herbs.
Fiji Sea Salt is now available in stores across Fiji and exported overseas.
Mr Waitati has travelled to Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Belgium, Spain, Egypt, Maldives, Thailand, New Zealand and during all his travel essentials are a scuba diving gear, Fiji Sea Salt.
Fiji Sea salt can be purchased at any Extra Supermarket store or Kundan Singh Supermarkets in Tamavua and Pacific Harbour and Jacks of Fiji outlets and gift shops, 200 grams cost $23 dollars.