table salt; salt placed on the table
Refers to salt served in a small dish at the table, often for seasoning food. Historically, it was used in individual portions.
small individual plate (for salt)
Abbreviation of 手塩皿 (てしおざら), a small dish used to hold salt for individual seasoning. Often encountered in historical or traditional contexts.
See also: 手塩皿 (てしおざら)
In the past, people placed table salt on the dining table and seasoned their food individually.
At the traditional restaurant, a small salt plate was provided for each person.
small plate
Compound of 手 (hand) and 塩 (salt), literally 'hand salt,' referring to salt placed at hand for personal use. The idiomatic extension to 'raising with care' comes from the image of personally seasoning food.