Product Description

Producing salt has been the main source of livelihood for part of the coastal population of Bali since centuries ago. Salt was also an important commodity in trade between Bali, Lombok and Batavia in the 17th century. Ships from Bali sailing for Batavia carried salt in addition to other commodities.

Meanwhile, Amed salt itself has been known as high-quality salt since the time of the Karangasem kingdom around 1500 Saka or 1578 AD, where the Amed people were asked by the King to give their salt as an offering tax to the King. At that time, Amed Salt was equivalent to a basket of rice or other foodstuffs such as sweet potatoes, corn or taro.

At that time, the area of Amed Salt production reached hundreds of hectares, from east to west the residents worked as salt farmers. However, along with the rapid development of tourism, many salt farmers have sold their land and have converted into restaurants, hotels, cafes and other tourism activities. Now, only 10 hectares of salt agricultural land are left in Banjar Amed and Banjar Lebah.

Currently, as land is decreasing due to eroded development on the coast, Amed salt farmers are decreasing and there are only 34 farmers left. That’s why Mr. Nengah Suanda is currently taking the initiative to establish a cooperative to unite the remaining salt farmers so that the Balinese cultural heritage in the process of making palungan salt does not become extinct and can continue to grow.