Est. 1886
Heritage & History
Diamond Crystal Salt Company was established in St. Clair, Michigan in 1886, using an open-pan evaporation process to produce salt from underground brine deposits. The open-pan process produces salt crystals of distinctive shape — hollow, pyramidal flakes rather than the cubic crystals produced by standard evaporation or mining methods. These hollow crystals are lighter by volume than cubic salt crystals, which means a pinch of Diamond Crystal weighs less and seasons more delicately than the same pinch of table salt or denser kosher salts.
The hollow crystal structure has made Diamond Crystal the preferred kosher salt of professional American chefs who season by feel rather than weight. The crystals adhere to food surfaces more effectively than denser salt and dissolve faster on contact with moisture, producing seasoning that is distributed more evenly through cooked food.
Made in St. Clair, Michigan
Diamond Crystal is produced at the St. Clair, Michigan facility using the open-pan evaporation process that has been the company's method since 1886. Underground Michigan brine is pumped to the surface, clarified, and then evaporated in open pans at carefully controlled temperatures that produce the characteristic hollow crystal structure. The resulting salt is pure sodium chloride with no anti-caking agents, iodine, or other additives — just the mineral produced by the evaporation of natural brine.
The Michigan facility represents over 130 years of continuous operation using a manufacturing process that cannot be easily replicated — the hollow crystal structure is a consequence of the open-pan conditions that require facility investment and operational expertise developed over generations.
What Sets Them Apart
Diamond Crystal's hollow flake structure is a physical property that affects how it seasons food differently from other salts. Because the crystals are less dense, recipes that call for Diamond Crystal need to be scaled differently if substituting a denser salt — a tablespoon of Diamond Crystal weighs roughly half what the same volume of Morton Coarse Kosher Salt weighs. This difference is important enough that professional recipe developers specify which kosher salt they used, because the results differ measurably.
For home cooks who season by touch — grabbing a pinch and distributing it over a piece of meat or a pot of cooking water — Diamond Crystal's lighter, more adherent crystals provide more sensory feedback and more consistent results than denser alternatives. The St. Clair, Michigan production and the 138-year heritage make Diamond Crystal the domestic salt brand with the deepest roots in American professional cooking.
Diamond Crystal Salt Sense Flake Salt 17.6oz
Diamond Crystal
Food & Beverages
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Diamond Crystal made in the USA?
Yes. Diamond Crystal manufactures 3 verified products in St. Clair, MI. Diamond Crystal has produced kosher salt in St. Clair, Michigan since 1886, and its hollow-crystal flake structure has made it the preferred salt of professional American chefs for over a century.
Where is Diamond Crystal manufactured?
Diamond Crystal is headquartered in St. Clair, MI. Manufacturing takes place in St. Clair, MI.
What Diamond Crystal products can I buy?
We carry 3 verified Diamond Crystal products across Food & Beverages. Every listing links directly to Amazon with verified American manufacturing.
When was Diamond Crystal founded?
Diamond Crystal was founded in 1886. Diamond Crystal has produced kosher salt in St. Clair, Michigan since 1886, and its hollow-crystal flake structure has made it the preferred salt of professional American chefs for over a century.
Related American-Made Brands
Bob's Red Mill
Milwaukie, OR
15 verified products
Bone Suckin' Sauce
Raleigh, North Carolina
9 verified products
Bush's Beans
Chestnut Hill, Tennessee
12 verified products
Cabot Creamery
Cabot, VT
12 verified products
Celestial Seasonings
Boulder, Colorado
12 verified products
Crystal Hot Sauce
Reserve, Louisiana
15 verified products