FAQs

Cold smoking is a process that uses wood smoke to add flavor without cooking the food with heat. Unlike traditional hot smoking, the goal is to expose the product to smoke while keeping the temperature low.

At The Original Cold Smoked Salt and Pepper Company, we use handcrafted artisan pottery smokers with an offset fire source. The smoke travels into the pottery smokers, where it continuously circulates around our salt, peppercorns, and other seasonings, gradually infusing them with natural wood-smoked flavor.

Because the heat source is kept separate from the seasonings, the focus is on smoke rather than heat. This slow process allows us to develop the distinctive smoky flavor of our seasonings while maintaining the character of the original ingredients.

Smoked salt is sea salt that has been infused with natural wood smoke to create a distinctive smoky flavor and aroma. Rather than adding artificial smoke flavoring, our sea salts are cold smoked using real wood in our artisan pottery smokers.

Different woods create different flavor profiles. Applewood provides a milder, slightly sweet smoke, while Hickory delivers a stronger, more traditional smoky flavor. Other woods such as Cherry, Maple, Mesquite, Whiskey and Pecan allow us to create a variety of smoked salts for different foods and cooking styles.

Smoked salt can be used during cooking or as a finishing salt on foods such as steak, chicken, pork, seafood, vegetables, potatoes, eggs and more.

Want to learn more? [Read our complete guide: What Is Smoked Salt? →]

Smoked pepper is whole black peppercorn that has been slowly infused with natural wood smoke, creating a rich smoky flavor and aroma while maintaining the familiar bite of black pepper.

At The Original Cold Smoked Salt and Pepper Company, we cold smoke whole peppercorns using real wood in our artisan pottery smokers. Different wood varieties create distinct flavor profiles, allowing the peppercorns to complement different foods and cooking styles.

Smoked pepper can be freshly ground and used anywhere you would normally use black pepper—including steak, chicken, pork, seafood, vegetables, eggs, potatoes, soups and sauces. It can be used during cooking or freshly ground over a finished dish for an additional layer of smoky flavor.

Smoked paprika is paprika that has been infused with natural wood smoke, giving the familiar flavor and color of paprika an added layer of rich, smoky flavor. Paprika itself is made from dried red peppers that are ground into a fine powder.

At The Original Cold Smoked Salt and Pepper Company, we take paprika and cold smoke it using real wood in our artisan pottery smokers. Our cold-smoking process allows the paprika to gradually absorb the character of the wood smoke without relying on artificial smoke flavoring.

We offer Hickory, Mesquite, Applewood, and Pecan Smoked Paprika, each providing a different smoke profile. Smoked paprika is excellent for chicken, pork, beef, seafood, vegetables, potatoes, chili, soups, sauces, homemade seasoning blends and BBQ recipes.

Want to learn more? Read our complete guide: What Is Smoked Paprika? →

Smoked paprika can be used before or during cooking to add rich smoky flavor and deep red color to food. Sprinkle it directly onto meats and vegetables, mix it into dry rubs and seasoning blends, or use it to add smoky flavor to soups, chili, sauces and marinades.

Smoked paprika is especially good on chicken, pork, beef, seafood, potatoes and roasted vegetables. It also pairs naturally with smoked sea salt and freshly ground smoked peppercorns when building a simple seasoning blend.

Despite its deep red color, smoked paprika is generally used for smoky flavor rather than heat. If you want additional heat, it can be combined with cayenne or other hot peppers.

Want more cooking ideas? Read our complete guide: How to Use Smoked Paprika →

Use smoked salt and smoked pepper anywhere you would normally use traditional salt and black pepper to add an additional layer of natural smoky flavor. They can be used before cooking, during cooking, or as a finishing seasoning just before serving.

Season steak, chicken, pork, seafood and vegetables before grilling, roasting or cooking on the stovetop. Add them to potatoes, eggs, soups, sauces and homemade seasoning blends, or simply finish a prepared dish with a pinch of smoked sea salt and freshly ground smoked peppercorn.

The key is to keep it simple. You don't need a complicated seasoning blend to create great flavor. Start with a small amount, taste as you cook, and add more as needed.

Want more ideas? Read our complete guide: How to Use Smoked Salt →

How long does smoked salt last? The simple answer is, it depends on the packaging. Typical manufactured smoked salt is either in plastic or glass containers with a twist top with a paper seal that needs to be removed after purchase. Does smoked salt go bad? Once the seal has been removed it will begin to lose its potency immediately. Unlike store bought brands, we place all of our smoked salt in 5.1 mil mylar resealable bags. Mylar is specially designed to not let any aromatic in or out of the bag. The zip lock seal protects that smoky flavor time and time again after each use. How long does smoked salt last is based on the care and attention put into the packaging. With our handcrafted smoked salts, the answer is well over a year. Our customers love to tell us how they are still using the same smoked salt bought from us over a year ago and still rave about the smoky flavor. So does smoked salt go bad? We assure you ours will will still be elevating your meals for quite some time and will last well beyond those manufactured store bought brands. 

Choosing the right smoked salt depends on the foods you enjoy and how much smoky flavor you prefer. Applewood offers a mild, balanced smoke that's versatile for everyday cooking. Hickory delivers a richer, more traditional BBQ flavor, while Maple offers a slightly sweeter smoke and Mesquite provides a bold, earthy character.

If you're new to smoked salt, start with the foods you cook most often and choose a wood variety that complements them. You can also explore our smoked sea salt collection to discover different flavor profiles.

Absolutely! Smoked salt makes an excellent finishing salt. Sprinkle a small amount over food just before serving to add a final layer of smoky flavor. It's especially good on steak, roasted vegetables, potatoes, eggs, and grilled seafood.

Start with a small pinch and adjust to taste. You can also use smoked salt during cooking, just as you would traditional salt.

Adding smoky flavor to food is easy with naturally cold-smoked seasonings. You don't need a smoker or a grill. Simply replace your everyday salt and pepper with smoked sea salt and freshly ground smoked peppercorns to add a delicious layer of wood-smoked flavor to your cooking.

Season steak, chicken, pork, seafood, or vegetables before grilling, roasting, or cooking on the stovetop. Add smoked paprika to soups, sauces, potatoes, and homemade seasoning blends for even more smoky flavor.

For an easy finishing touch, sprinkle a small amount of smoked sea salt over your food just before serving. This works especially well on steak, roasted potatoes, scrambled eggs, and grilled vegetables.

Start simple. A little smoked salt and pepper can make a noticeable difference without adding extra ingredients or complicating your cooking.

Want more ideas? Explore our How to Use Smoked Salt  guide for everyday cooking inspiration.

Smoked salt tastes like traditional sea salt with an added layer of rich, natural wood-smoked flavor. Think of the delicious aroma and flavor of food cooked over a campfire, brought into your everyday cooking without needing a grill or smoker.

The flavor varies depending on the type of wood used during the cold-smoking process. Each wood creates its own distinctive characteristics:

Applewood: Mild, balanced smoke with a subtle sweetness that complements chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables.

Hickory: Rich, robust smoke with a traditional BBQ character, ideal for steak, burgers, and grilled meats.

Maple: Smooth, slightly sweet smoke that pairs beautifully with pork, poultry, and roasted vegetables.

Mesquite: Bold, earthy smoke that works particularly well with beef, grilled meats, and Southwestern-inspired dishes.

The beauty of smoked salt is its versatility. Whether you're seasoning food before cooking or adding a finishing touch just before serving, it brings the familiar flavor of salt together with the distinctive character of natural wood smoke.

We package all our products in FDA approved bottle. The top of the bottle has a pressured sealed foam top to lock in freshness. Each bottle cap has a safety band to protect the product from any temporing. 

Labeling contians nutrition facts about the product. 

Applewood Smoked Sea Salt has a milder, slightly sweet smoke that complements chicken, pork, seafood, and vegetables. 

Hickory Smoked Sea Salt delivers a stronger, more traditional smoke flavor that pairs especially well with steak, burgers, BBQ, and roasted potatoes.

Both are versatile for everyday cooking. Your choice comes down to whether you prefer a gentler smoke or a more robust flavor.

Our smoked peppercorns are sold whole, so we recommend using a pepper grinder to enjoy their freshly ground flavor and aroma. Grind them directly over food before, during, or after cooking.

Freshly grinding peppercorns releases their aroma and gives you control over the coarseness of the pepper.

No. We never use liquid smoke or artificial smoke flavorings in our products. Our distinctive smoky flavor comes from natural wood smoke, slowly infused into our seasonings through our traditional cold-smoking process.

At The Original Cold Smoked Salt and Pepper Company, we use artisan pottery smokers and a variety of real hardwoods to develop the unique flavor and aroma of each seasoning.

We also use freshly squeezed lemon, lime, and orange juices when creating our citrus-infused smoked peppercorns, bringing together natural citrus flavor and wood smoke.

Our philosophy is simple: authentic ingredients, traditional craftsmanship, and genuine wood-smoked flavor.

Smoked salt and liquid smoke both add smoky flavor to food, but they are made differently and serve different purposes in cooking.

At The Original Cold Smoked Salt and Pepper Company, we use pink Himalayan salt and slowly infuse it with natural hardwood smoke in our artisan pottery smokers. Our smoked garlic and onion salts are made with kosher salt instead. Each wood variety creates its own distinctive flavor and aroma.

Liquid smoke is a concentrated flavoring produced by capturing and condensing wood smoke. It's commonly added to marinades, BBQ sauces, soups, and other recipes.

The biggest difference is how you use them. Smoked salt combines seasoning and smoky flavor in one ingredient. You can use it while cooking or sprinkle it over finished dishes such as steak, chicken, seafood, roasted potatoes, and vegetables. 

Liquid smoke is typically added in small quantities to recipes.

Our cold-smoked salts offer a simple way to bring authentic wood-smoked flavor into everyday cooking without needing a smoker or adding a separate liquid ingredient.

Keep your smoked seasonings in their original bottles with the screw-top lids securely closed. Store them in a cool, dry place away from moisture, direct sunlight, and excessive heat.

Proper storage helps preserve their distinctive smoky flavor and aroma. Avoid shaking seasonings directly over steaming pots or pans, as moisture can enter the bottle.

Yes! Our smoked seasoning gift sets are a great way to introduce friends and family to the flavor of naturally cold-smoked seasonings. They make thoughtful gifts for home cooks, grilling enthusiasts, BBQ lovers, and anyone who enjoys experimenting in the kitchen.

Explore our smoked seasoning gift sets to find combinations for different tastes and cooking styles.

Due to the nature of our food products, all sales are final, and we do not accept returns or offer refunds for change-of-mind purchases.

However, your satisfaction is important to us. If your order arrives damaged, contains an incorrect item, or you experience another issue with your purchase, please contact The Original Cold Smoked Salt and Pepper Company. We'll be happy to review the situation and work with you toward an appropriate resolution.

Yes! Many people like to send our products as a gift to friends or family members. When using the check-out process, please put your friend or family members address in the “Ship to” location and then make sure the “Bill to” location is the purchaser’s address. You will receive a notification via email when your order has shipped along with a tracking number. 

We accept all major credit and debit cards, as well as PayPal and Apple Pay, for convenient and secure online checkout.

Currently, The Original Cold Smoked Salt and Pepper Company ships exclusively within the United States. We do not offer international shipping at this time.