Staraya Russa has its own salt brand which will compete in Tastes of Russia, the first national competition for regional brands organised by the Agriculture Ministry of the Russian Federation. With the application deadline set to expire on 9 November, the organising committee has already received more than 400 applications from 70 regions.
The contest seeks to help consumers discover regional brands and products, enabling them to gain national, rather than exclusively regional, recognition. The best brands will be included in the tasting map of Russia and will benefit from the Agriculture Ministry’s support.
The popular vote on the вкусыроссии.рф website started on 19 November, with internet users asked to support their favourite regional brands.
Staraya Russa salt is a unique product. Water here is rich in iron and silicon, so the salt has a yellowish colour. It has big grains and is very salty. Even ancient chronicles say that this salt “is red, but at the same time pure.” The colour comes from magnesium and potassium, while purity comes from the fact that it dissolves completely in water.
The construction of a salt plant started in Staraya Russa in October 2014. It became the main symbol of the Medieval Estate of a Staraya Russa Resident interactive museum, giving birth to an exclusive brand. Just like a thousand years ago, salt is made here by evaporating it from the water that comes from local mineral springs. In fact, Staraya Russa owes its foundation in the 10th or 11th centuries to the salt industry. In the 16th century, foreigners reported that “Staraya Russa, with its multiple salt factories, made the best quality salt in great quantities.