{"id":207992,"date":"2020-09-14T11:52:23","date_gmt":"2020-09-14T09:52:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/?p=207992"},"modified":"2020-09-14T12:16:00","modified_gmt":"2020-09-14T10:16:00","slug":"iconic-brands-launches-100-natural-organic-vegan-preservative-free-additive-free-hand-crafted-range-of-kalahari-desert-salt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog\/cape-town\/iconic-brands-launches-100-natural-organic-vegan-preservative-free-additive-free-hand-crafted-range-of-kalahari-desert-salt\/","title":{"rendered":"Iconic Brands launches 100% natural, Organic, Vegan, preservative-free, additive-free hand-crafted range of Kalahari Desert Salt!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\"\"For most South African businesspersons the Corona Virus Lockdown has been a disaster. For Iconic Brands\u2019 Mark McCarthy it was a catastrophe, being a sales representative for a number of leading alcoholic beverage brands. Yet it brought out the best in him and his partner Tanja, in that an overseas gift of salt created a spark of an idea to launch something similar, leading to the creation of a range of five Bespoke Kalahari desert salts, which are 100% natural, organic, handcrafted, preservative-free, additive-free, colourant-free, flow agent-free, and micro plastic particle-free. <\/p>\n

What I loved even more than the five unique salt flavours, including a Gin Botanical Salt, is the handy salt container as well as the little Bamboo spoon that accompanies each container, \"\"shrink-wrapped to make it 100% safe for use in these Covid times. Each salt variant specifies its ingredients, and offers suggestions for the foods to use it on.<\/p>\n

Mark sent me a detailed background story to his Iconic Brands Kalahari Desert Salt range, detailing the product development journey he went through until he launched his Iconic Brands Bespoke Salt range last week:<\/p>\n

# \u00a0Gin Botanical Salt: Gin Botanicals, non-Alcohol, Kalahari Desert Salt<\/p>\n

# \u00a0Juniper Berry Salt: Juniper Berries, Kalahari Desert Salt<\/p>\n

# \u00a0Lemon & Lime Salt: Lemon and lime zest, Kalahari Desert Salt.<\/p>\n

# \u00a0Hibiscus Salt: Dried Hibiscus flowers, Kalahari Desert Salt.<\/p>\n

# \u00a0 Chili Salt: Chillies, Kalahari Desert Salt<\/p>\n

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\u2018This business only came onto the market this\u00a0week. So it’s\u00a0brand spanking new.<\/i><\/p>\n

Shortly before our lock-down, a relative living in Spain sent Tanja & I a jar of Fleur De Sel Salt. It was a striking\u00a0Sea Blue Ceramic container with a Salt Spoon inside. This got my creative juices flowing, so I started investigating\u00a0the different types of Salt (Sea Salt \/ Khoisan Salt, Kosher Salt & Kalahari Salt). After researching Sea Salt, and 90% containing microplastics, I decided that the purest form that I wanted to use was Salt from the Kalahari. I got different bags sent to me from Kalahari Salt Worx, 1 being Fine, 1 Medium-Course, and the last being Course. I’ve subsequently decided on only using the Med-Course Salt.<\/i><\/div>\n
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Due to\u00a0me owning the original DIY GIN KIT, I had Imported Hibiscus Flowers & Tuscan Juniper Berries available. I also had Chillies growing in my garden, and a neighbour with Lemons falling off the tree and going to waste on the floor. As you saw on Facebook, I’m looking for another Lemon and Lime from our community, as paying for Organic Limes at retail price, it’s ridiculous.<\/i><\/div>\n

\nThen another light-bulb moment\u00a0came whilst looking for that 1 Salt that is so different, it’s crazy! Being in the Gin business, I spoke to my Distillery regarding the left-over Botanicals. They kept a batch for me, put it outside to dry in the Sun, and someone stole them. Then I thought, if I can make a \"\"normal Gin Salt, it can be replicated very easily by another Distillery. However, if I made a Blue Gin Botanical Salt, there’s virtually no competition. After chatting with the partners of the very well-known Blue Gin Distillery, they agreed to supply me with their Botanicals. NB: Distillers are VERY protective around their Gin recipes and Botanicals; as with a little research & analysis, they can be broken down & copied. So this was a huge coup for me. They were the 1st ones to see & taste their Botanical Salt.<\/i><\/div>\n
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BANG – Lock-down hit us and threw a spanner into everyones’ lives. Being in Alcohol sales, my business came to a grinding halt, with no idea as to when sales would be allowed again.<\/i><\/div>\n
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This forced me to get very proactive, and very quickly, so I hit the ground running. I sourced the Salt Jars and Bamboo Spoons from International companies, and having to pay in US Dollars wasn’t pleasant, so I was now well & truly all-in! It took 4 months for them to arrive, as they were now also in lock-down.<\/i><\/div>\n
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I experimented with what is now 5 Salts. I got hold of a Graphic Designer, who now had plenty of free time on his hands, and together we designed the labelling. After many weeks and disagreements, Tanja & I finally found and agreed upon a Vintage, yet Classic-looking front & back label design.<\/i><\/div>\n
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Three months later, the label design was finished and ready to go to a printer. That was a \"\"mission in itself, finding a reputable printer that can dye-cut, UV Gloss and film layer the labels.\u00a0<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

During the to-and-fro of label designs etc, I was designing the perfect how-to-do-it-best recipe for each Salt. All five Salts have no additives, preservatives or flow-agents \/ anti-caking agents, are 100% Natural, Vegan and Organic. Due to legislation changing wrt the use of Organic on food products, I decided to leave it off the label, as if I print 10,000 labels and legislation changes in a week or a few months’ time, I’m up the river with 10,000 labels that I can’t use, and no paddle!<\/i><\/div>\n
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The original plan was to produce six Salts. However, due to lock down, my source for the Kalahari Truffles couldn’t get them to me, so I had to bin that one.<\/i><\/div>\n
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I hope that this info helps, and that you enjoy my Series of Salts on many delicious dishes. Should you require any additional info, please just ask.\u2019<\/i><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Contact Iconic Brands,\u00a0Mark McCarthy\u00a0+27 (0) 72 374 6902 www.iconicbrands.co.za Instagram: @bespoke_salts<\/h4>\n<\/div>\n

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Chris von Ulmenstein, WhaleTales Blog: www.chrisvonulmenstein.com\/blog Tel +27 082 55 11 323 Twitter:@Ulmenstein Facebook: Chris von Ulmenstein, My Cape Town Guide\/Mein Kapstadt Guide\u00a0Instagram: @Chrissy_Ulmenstein @MyCapeTownGuide<\/strong><\/p>\n

About Chris von Ulmenstein<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n