GNY EP.204 | feat. Syracuse Salt Co.
Did you know Syracuse sits on top of a 700-million-year-old ocean? In this episode of Good News York, host Noah Chrysler sits down with David and Libby from Syracuse Salt Company, a father-daughter business that’s bringing salt production back to the Salt City after nearly a century.
David and Libby share the fascinating history of salt in Syracuse, from its rise as one of the country’s largest salt producers in the 1700s to its decline in the 1920s when railroads made coastal salt cheaper to transport. They explain how a prehistoric underground ocean still feeds saltwater brine beneath the region today, three times saltier than the ocean itself, and how they drilled their own well to tap into it.
We dive deep into their salt-making process: filtering iron from the brine, evaporating the water, drying the salt in racks, and sifting it to different coarseness levels, all with a zero-waste philosophy. David breaks down why their unprocessed flake salt delivers more flavor with less sodium compared to mass-produced brands like Morton’s, and Libby shares how even kids on factory tours can taste the difference.
The conversation covers finishing salts, cooking tips, flavor infusions using local and single-sourced spices, and their creative collaborations with local makers like Hobey Honey (salted honey) and Speech Candy (cinnamon toast brittle). Plus: the great pickle debate, whether flavored salts could work for quick pickling, and a live taste test that genuinely surprises Noah.
We also discuss the growing list of Syracuse restaurants using their salt — including a high-end chef who broke fine-dining convention by putting their salt on every table — and how you can find their products at Wegmans, online, or at their workshop on Pulaski Street.
Chapters:
0:00 – Welcome & Introductions
0:14 – Meet Syracuse Salt Company
1:02 – The History of Salt in Syracuse
2:20 – A 700-Million-Year-Old Ocean
4:48 – The DOT Uses Underground Saltwater
5:20 – How Salt Is Made
7:02 – The Artistry of Salt Making
9:38 – Morton Salt vs. Real Salt
11:40 – Finishing Salt & Cooking Tips
13:30 – The Pickle Flavor Request
15:25 – Collaborations & Partnerships
20:12 – Taste Test: Cinnamon Toast Brittle
22:51 – Taste Test: The Salts
27:55 – Using Cardamom Salt
29:35 – Where to Find Syracuse Salt Co.
32:25 – Local Restaurants & Chefs
35:15 – Sponsor & Outro
Good News York highlights the people, businesses, and stories that make Central New York a great place to live. Hosted by Noah Chrysler.
www.goodnewsyork.com
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Produced by Click Stream Studios — www.ClickStreamStudios.com
