Marnoto
Marnoto
In 1997, João — a student of marine biology — and his friend Vitor were granted consent to work with Portugal’s natural resources. Taking on 20 hectares of protected land in the national park of Ria Formosa, they set about restoring the historic salt marshes.
At the time, the region’s salt production had been heavily modernised, with industrial processes taking over. Instead, João and Vitor turned back to the skills of the marnotos — the traditional saltpan workers who harvest by hand. They called their brand Marnoto in tribute.
Today, they produce three different salts: Flor de Sal (so prized it is known locally as ‘the cream of the salt’), coarse traditional sea salt, and fine traditional sea salt. They set the gold standard for 100% natural, organic and additive-free salt. They have won five stars and the title of ‘Portugal’s Favourite Salt’ for the fourth consecutive year.
At the time, the region’s salt production had been heavily modernised, with industrial processes taking over. Instead, João and Vitor turned back to the skills of the marnotos — the traditional saltpan workers who harvest by hand. They called their brand Marnoto in tribute.
Today, they produce three different salts: Flor de Sal (so prized it is known locally as ‘the cream of the salt’), coarse traditional sea salt, and fine traditional sea salt. They set the gold standard for 100% natural, organic and additive-free salt. They have won five stars and the title of ‘Portugal’s Favourite Salt’ for the fourth consecutive year.