SPECIFICATION
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 1151/2012 on protected geographical indications and
Protections designations of Origin
‘Oriel Sea Minerals’
PDO (X)
PGI ( )
1.
RESPONSIBLE DEPARTMENT IN THE MEMBER STATE: IRELAND
NAME: Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine
ADDRESS: Food Industry Development Division, Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2
TEL: (353-1) 6073464
FAX: (353-1) 6072038
E-MAIL: GeographicalIndications@agriculture.gov.ie
2.
GROUP
NAME: The Oriel Sea Salt Company Limited
ADDRESS: Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland
TEL: Plant: +353 41 9889624 Office: +353 1 8329675
FAX: + 354 1 8329675
E-MAIL: info@orielseasalt.com Website: www.orielseasalt.com
COMPOSITION:
PRODUCERS/PROCESSORS (✔)
3.
TYPE OF PRODUCT
Class 2.6. Salt
4.
SPECIFICATION
4.1 Name:
‘Oriel Sea Minerals’
OTHER( )
4.2 Description
‘Oriel Sea Minerals’ is the name given to concentrated sea mineral salts in liquid form harvested
from the bay of Port Oriel, Clogherhead, Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. It is a concentrated
blend of Macro and Trace Minerals that is a clear (sometimes slightly yellow in colour dependent on
the time of year harvested) and slightly viscous liquid form. It is additive free. It has an oily feel and
texture to the touch yet there are no oils present. The viscosity of the sea minerals is between 4.00 –
5.15 mPa.s at Temp of 25 degrees & Spindle Speed of 50 rpm (+ - 10 %). Its concentrated liquid
form allows it to be diluted in most beverages, juices or plain water at a ratio of between 100-1 and
1000-1 dependent on the need.
Due to its liquid form the Minerals and Trace Elements are in an elemental ionized state (that is
before they are bound by any Ligands such as sulphate, citrate, oxide etc). The system employed
allows Oriel to harvest the ocean waters for these minerals and to concentrate them.
The minerals when taken in their concentrated state have a powerful mineral salty taste however
when diluted in water, juice or other beverage at the correct ratio the minerals dissipate leaving
almost no aftertaste. ‘Oriel Sea Minerals’ are an excellent Food Supplement delivering a perfect
balance and ratio of minerals to the body through the medium of water or liquid making absorption
and nutrient benefit more rapid and effective.
Certificate of Analysis for ‘Oriel Sea Minerals’. ‘Oriel Sea Minerals’ is within +/- 10% of the table
below.
Oriel Sea Minerals Analysis
Testing: ICP MS
H2O
Mg
Na
K
B
Ca
Ni
Cu
Sr
Pb
Fe
Zn
Al
Mn
Cd
Cr
Se
Pb
Co
Tl
Be
Water
Magnesium
Sodium
Potassium
Boron
Calcium
Nickel
Copper
Strontium
Molybdenum
Iron
Zinc
Aluminium
Manganese
Cadmium
Chromium
Selenium
Lead
Cobalt
Thallium
Beryllium
Oriel Sea Minerals
ml / ltr
Less than 58% by weight
Less than 60,000 ml / ltr
Less than 23,000 ml / ltr
Less than 20,000 ml / ltr
Less than 200 ml / ltr
Less than 70.0 ml / ltr
Less than 2.31 ml / ltr
Less than 1.45 ml / ltr
Less than 1.21 ml / ltr
Less than 0.50 ml / ltr
Less than 0.50 ml / ltr
Less than 0.50 ml / ltr
Less than 0.50 ml / ltr
Less than 0.23 ml / ltr
Trace
Trace
Trace
Trace
Trace
Trace
Trace
4.3 Geographical Area
Port Oriel, Clogherhead is located on the Northwest side of the headland Clogher Head that protrudes
out into deep water straits. The specific demarcated area stretches from the Southern most tip of
Clogher Head with Latitude = 53.79497 (north), Longitude = -6.21778 (west), Latitude = 53°47'42"
(north), Longitude = 6°13'4" (west) to the Northern tip of Dunany Point Latitude = 53.86144 (north),
Longitude = -6.23838 (west), Latitude = 53°51'41" (north), Longitude = 6°14'18" (west). A distance
of 5 nautical miles located within the Dundalk bay Live Bivalve Mollusc Classified Production Areas
2013, Area Code LH-DB-DB.
Location relative to country showing tidal movements
Historical Map of the Region
Demarcated Area
4.4 Proof of Origin
 Oriel Sea Minerals are harvested in the bay of Port Oriel (Irish: Poirt Oirghialla). Port Oriel is
located in the ancient “Kingdom of Oriel”, a recognised kingdom dating back to the 12th century.

The specific ratio and balance of minerals, trace elements and micro nutrients is directly
attributable to the mineral content of the location in Port Oriel.

Every container of sea minerals can be traced back to the day and batch of production.

All plant, harvesting and packing equipment are cleaned, monitored and maintained on a daily,
weekly and monthly basis to ensure consistency and product quality.
4.5 Method of Production
All processes of harvesting, evaporation, separation and crystallization are performed inside, in the
designated area, under controlled and monitored conditions to ensure consistency in the quality of the
product.

In a batch process seawater is pumped twice daily during high tide from an underwater pump
located in the bay of Oriel. This seawater is pumped through a 90mm pipe and then through a
specially designed filtration system into seawater storage tanks. The section of intake pipe
located close to the foreshore is covered and uncovered twice daily in accordance with the tidal
movement.

From the storage tanks it passes through a network of pipes into a second series of filtration
systems including carbon, disc, cartridge and ultra-filtration systems, which bring the seawater to
a Nephelometric Turbidity Units level of less than 10, thus removing all impurities and
contamination such as other microscopic sea organisms, algae, sand etc. From there it is pumped
into another holding tank.

The filtered sea-water then passes through a specially designed Reverse Osmosis (RO) system
combining specific flow rates at designated pressures. The RO serves to de-salinate the sea-water
with two outputs, purified water and concentrated sea-water brine. The RO process takes up to
12 hrs. per batch.

The concentrated sea-water brine is passed through a brine concentration system while being
subjected to high temperatures in a pressurized environment. This is known as the “Cooking”
time. The cooking time is dependent on the ambient temperature of the sea-water, the outside air,
the temperature inside the facility and the sea minerals output required.

The brine concentration system is in use for a period of between 18-24 hours until the sea salt
reaches a state of crystallization, which is between 28% - 35% density. When the point of
crystallization is reached the sea salt is removed from the brine concentration system.

The remaining concentrated brine is further concentrated for up to an additional 12hrs to increase
the density.

Once concentrated to the desired level of Brix (This is determined by the end use and will vary
between 35% to 45%) Different levels of concentration are more suitable to specific uses such as
whether it is beverage or food or supplementation. The minerals are then packaged in suitable
bottles, which will range from 30ml to 20 ltrs dependent on the end clients requirements. All
containers or bags are then batch coded prior to storage or dispatch.

Oriel Sea Minerals are made from pure sea-water. It is harvested through in an environmental
and sustainable approved manner. The process is Organic certified which allows Oriel Sea
Minerals to be used in organic products and recipes.

Certifications of quality include:





Organic Trust – Certified Organic Process
Origin Green – National Body Certified Sustainable Process for food.
Kosher – International Kosher Standard
Euro Toques Irl – European community of Chefs
Health and Safety Authority – Certified Food Grade Facility
4.6 Link
The Sea Minerals are characteristic of its origin in its mineral ratio, balance, taste and appearance.
Just as grapes are affected by terroir and weather, Oriel Sea Minerals are affected by the deep water
currents, cleanliness, mineral content and purity of the water in this location and of the process used
to make, preserve and refine these characteristics.
Harvesting of sea salt in this region dates back centuries. The following is from the County Louth
Archeological & Historical Journal. ”On 28th January 1667 Viscount Dungannon leased a parcel of
land lying neere ye towne of Carlingforde for erection of saltworks to Colonel Cooke of Chiswick in
Middlesex as a salt manufacturer”. For hundreds of years Port Oriel has been synonymous with
abundant fishing waters with locals fishing deep-water fish directly from the rocks & harbour. Salt
was a vital ingredient in preserving fish landed at the harbor for consumption, storage and subsequent
transport to market. {pt mp 16 pm near Newry Street on the 1797 map had a salt works on it, with
local documented facts detailing the salt/sluice gates also recorded}.
The Gulf Stream flows up the West Coast of Ireland and when it meets the cooler waters of the
Norwegian Sea it wraps around the North and North Eastern headland to its final destination, five
miles beyond the Bay at Port Oriel. At this point the current ends as it meets the massive outflow of
the River Boyne (Ireland’s second largest river).
Port Oriel is situated on the northwest side of the headland Clogher Head that protrudes directly out
into deep-water straits. In tests, the salinity in these waters is comparable to that normally only found
in deep-sea water. This high salinity has been linked with the unusual deep-sea currents of the Gulf
Stream in the area. The water at Port Oriel has been consistently tested at a density 3.5 % – 3.6% that
is consistent with deeper waters.
The waters of Port Oriel have consistently been rated as Grade “A” International Shellfish Quality,
the purest of the sea, for many years by The Marine Institute of Ireland. The harvesting of mussels,
clams, crab, lobsters and razor fish is a vibrant business in and around the bay of Port Oriel and this
vibrancy of shellfish also contributes to the high quality and mineral content of the water. Indeed this
region is within the boundaries of Dundalk Bay Live Bivalve Mollusc Classified Production Areas
2014, Area Code LH-DB-DB. As issued by The Sea Fisheries Protection Authority for the harvesting
of Clams and Razor Fish.
The qualities of Oriel Sea Minerals are directly linked to the unusual deep sea currents in the
geographical location, the high mineral content not usually found in such shallow waters and due to
the Gulf Stream currents and the tidal movements that move around the northern coast of Ireland into
the larger Dundalk bay and consequently to the bay of Port Oriel. This high quality and mineral
content water is then harvested and refined through the process employed where it is untouched by
air, earth or human touch until it emerges as a mineral rich compound. The specialist harvesting
process produces a refined and pure mineral compound.
Summary:
The sea minerals produced are characteristic of its origin with a direct relationship to the salinity,
quality and density of the minerals in the water in this region. This is reflected in the mineral content
ratio, balance, quality and purity of Oriel Sea Minerals.
4.7 Inspection Body
NAME: Health Service Executive
ADDRESS: Drogheda
TEL / FAX:
E-MAIL: