oyster are a seafood fragility enjoyed by multitude all over the world . If you are looking to buy oysters to deplete , you will find that they are not all group under one general name . There are many variety of oysters , all with their own unequaled perceptiveness , texture , and size of it . The common names of oyster species broadly speaking add up from the sea where they are reap . Pacific oyster ( including blue stage oysters , Shigoku oysters and Kumiai oysters ) , Nipponese oyster , and Atlantic Eastern oysters are some of the most democratic type of oyster .
honest oyster are a character of saltwater mollusk ( phylumMollusca ) . Most mintage of edible oysters belong to the superfamilyOstreoidea . These shellfish thrive in leatherneck or brackish habitats where the water is relatively shallow . Oysters are identified by their irregularly - shaped , matted shell that cover the soft comestible deep down .
Oysters are generally consumed peeled or cook . To eat refreshful raw huitre , only a squeeze of lemon succus and a scattering of cayenne pepper is enough to enjoy this tasty discreetness .
All species of oysters also play an important theatrical role in marine ecosystem . Oysters act as urine filter and one oyster can sink in up to 50 gallons ( 190 cubic decimetre ) of water a day . They ameliorate body of water nutrient levels and they profit the biodiversity in oceans and seas .
In this clause , you will find out about the many varieties of oysters that you could exhaust . You will retrieve out about the sweetest and good types of oysters to consume raw .
Types of Oysters With Their Picture and Name
Although some masses find eating stark naked seafood unappetizing , they are a delicacy enjoy by many the great unwashed around the earth .
Let ’s look at some of the most popular varieties of oyster .
Pacific Oysters (Crassostrea Gigas)
Pacific oysters are quite large and pop around the universe
Other names for Pacific oyster include Japanese huitre or Miyagi oyster . As the gens advise , these oyster grow and are farm on the Pacific coasts of the United States and Japan . Their scientific name “ gigas , ” meaning giant , advert to the size of these with child edible oyster .
peaceable oysters grow on tilt or mud - grit bottoms in depths of between 16 and 130 ft . ( 5 – 40 thousand ) in cool water . Being a large species of huitre , these salty mollusks originate to an average sizing of between 3 ” and 6 ” ( 8 – 15 cm ) . However , some of the larger oyster specimen can grow to a huge size of it of 12 ” ( 30 cm ) . They have a hard , solid case that is a milklike color and approximate feel to it . It takes between 2 and 4 class for them to reach maturity . ( 1 )
The oysters are aboriginal to Japan and produce on coastal shores on the West Coast of the U.S. , and they have been exported to other countries . They are pop in the waters around the United Kingdom , New Zealand , and Australia .
According to some reports , Pacific oysters are one of the most popular species of oyster in the world .
What do Pacific oyster taste like ? The marrow of the oyster is fluid and velvety . These are generally sweet huitre with creamy overtone and a thin earthiness . equate to Atlantic or easterly oysters , these oysters are n’t as briny .
Atlantic Oysters (Crassostrea virginica)
Atlantic oyster are n’t as fresh taste as the Pacific oysters
Atlantic oysters are also identified by names such as the American huitre , Wellfleets , Blue stop , Eastern oyster , or the Totten Inlet Virginica . This oyster coinage is native to North America and was first discovered in the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland . Interestingly , the name “ Chesapeake Bay ” literally means “ Great Shellfish Bay . ”
Eastern ( Atlantic ) oysters grow fast and thrive in saltwater temperatures of between 60 and 60 ° F ( 15.5 – 20 ° C ) . They are similar in size as Pacific oyster with the small one measuring 3 ” ( 8 centimetre ) and expectant variety 7 ” ( 18 cm ) . Their grueling atomic number 20 shell are a white or gray / brown color with some purple streak . Inside , the shell is white and the blanched flesh has a violet or red - brown margin . They are generally found in shallow coastal waters and estuaries . ( 2 )
Although native to the Eastern Coast of the U.S. , these large oysters also grow along coasts in Northern Europe .
Atlantic oysters are n’t as sweet relishing as the Pacific smorgasbord . They have a discrete saltiness that has strong flavors of the sea . Some say that Atlantic oysters have creamy wind of seaweed and mushrooms . Due to being a cold - pee variety of oyster , the huitre meat is slightly crispy .
The relish of Atlantic oyster also vary depending on where the shellfish were harvested . Many of the common names of this mintage touch on to the areas in the U.S. For example , huitre send for Blue point are Atlantic huitre from Long Island and Wellfleets are from Cape Cod , Massachusetts . The Kumiai oyster are also a type of Pacific oysters that are develop in Vizcaino Bay , Baja California ,
Kumamoto Oysters (Crassostrea sikamea)
Kumamoto oysters are little eccentric of Japanese oyster
Kumamoto oysters are aboriginal to Japan and the coastal regions of countries in the western Pacific Ocean . These small sweet-smelling oysters are closely related to the Pacific huitre and have irregularly shaped rough hard shell .
compare to Pacific oysters which grow to an average of 4 ” ( 11 cm ) , Kumamoto oysters only grow to 2 ” ( 5 centimeter ) in size . Some species of “ kumies ” can be even smaller . They have a deep flute shell that protect the steady oyster meat within . The shell can be a milky - unripened color . The meat is ivory - snowy with a slow , soft grain and hints of briny flavor .
This species of huitre is such a fineness that they are usually labeled as “ Kumamotos ” oysters to distinguish them from Pacifics . These warm - water oysters are commonly the first type of oysters that ‘ beginner ’ effort . Their minuscule sizing and sweet appreciation without any fishiness make them the perfect huitre to commence with .
Kumamoto oysters are also prized among oyster connoisseur for their yummy , fruity flavor , and bowl - forge shells . If you are looking for the sweetest eccentric of huitre , then select a Kumamoto .
European Flats (Ostrea edulis)
European flat oysters are produce in many coastal region
European plane oysters get their name from the flat Pyrus communis or oval - mold shells that protect the sinew meat . These saltwater shellfish are native to Europe and are recognized by common names such as Belon oyster , mud oyster , or Colchester aboriginal huitre .
Compared to Pacific and Atlantic oysters , this European metal money has a piquant taste that has copper or metal overtones . Their shallow , keeled shell is another way to key out this species from other varieties of oyster .
European oysters are an important specie of farmed oyster in many coastal economies . It takes about 2 or 3 years for the oysters to pass on maturity . They originate to between 1.5 ” and 4 ” ( 4 – 10 cm ) across and the hard scale can be a yellowish or cream color . The huitre meat roll in colouration from pale gray to creamy white . The inside of the shells is pearly - white . If lead to grow , Ostrea edulisoysters can reach sizing of up to 7.8 ” ( 20 cm ) . ( 3 )
If European huitre are named and commercialize as “ Belon Oysters , ” they must fall from the Belon River in France . So , although some producers call their oyster “ Maine Belon Oysters , ” these are n’t unfeigned ‘ Belons . ’
Shallow huitre scale guard the large meaty oyster musculus . This huitre meat has a tender to tauten grain . Its taste is account as metallic and coppery with a flavor that makes a large command . equate to “ Pacifics ” or “ Atlantics , ” European huitre have a less salty taste and still retain some fragrance .
Due to their firm grain , European oysters are good for cooking with and are good ingredient for fish soups , stew , or making baked squeeze oysters .
Olympia Oysters (Ostrea lurida/conchaphila)
Olympia oysters are small and have a alone and sheer gustatory perception
capital of Washington huitre are aboriginal to the northwesterly seacoast of North America . Common names of this mintage of oyster also give clues as to where they are reap . For good example , Olympia oysters are from Washington and they are also called California oysters . These oysters are also sold as aboriginal oysters or Rock oysters .
There is also some confusion if they are the speciesOstrea luridaorOstrea conchaphila . These species of oysters are so standardized in shape and taste that they are difficult to say asunder . The Olympia West Coast oysters are get in British Columbia and are mainly produce in the Puget Sound .
One of the tell apart features of Olympia oysters is that they have a distinct oval that is sometimes almost round Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe . This is in dividing line to pear or rent - mould large Pacific oyster . Similar to European Belons , this oyster specie has a shallow carapace . The scale ’s people of colour is light purple or black and sometimes has a grayish show .
For many oyster connoisseurs , Olympia oysters are a delight . The huitre heart and soul is light olive dark-green to ivory white in coloration and has a creamy grain . The lowly amount of oyster meat packs a punchy piquant flavor that has coppery mineral overtones . In fact , the taste perception is so reminiscent of European oysters that they are sometimes called “ baby Belons . ”
Sydney Rock Oysters (Saccostrea glomerate)
Sydney rock oysters are pop in Australia and New Zealand
Sydney sway oysters are native to Australia and New Zealand . Because of this , they are also called New Zealand rock oysters or Auckland oyster . These hard - shelled mollusks thrive in shallow waters , sheltered bay , and estuary . Unlike some of their huitre cousins in the Northern Hemisphere with rough irregular casing , these oyster are have intercourse for their politic carapace .
Sydney rock oysters are a small huitre metal money that are between 2 ” to 3 ” ( 5 – 8 centimeter ) in distance . cut overt the shells , you will notice that the center is pale bloodless or yellowish in appearance . They also have a creamy and sharper mineral taste sensation to other type of popular oysters . Sydney rock oysters also have a less briny taste to Pacific huitre but still retain a modest - angelic savor .
Dredge Oysters (Ostrea chilensis)
Dredge Oysters are also called Bluff oysters and are notable in New Zealand
Another character of honest oyster native to the Southern Hemisphere is the dredge oyster . Because this mintage of mollusk is native to Chile , it is also call the Chilean oyster .
A coarse name for theOstrea chilensisin New Zealand is the Bluff oyster . This is one of the most famous New Zealand shellfish . These oysters are reap in the Foveaux Strait in the South Island realm . Their name add up from the town of Bluff where the fishery is located . ( 4 )
The hard oyster shells are a dull purplish - chocolate-brown color and have a debauchee shape . One casing is ridged and bowl - shaped and the other is flat . Shucking the oyster with an huitre knife reveals creamy colour huitre meat with hints of gray . The medium size of dredge oysters is between 2.3 ” to 3.1 ” ( 6 – 8 curium ) .
The creamy delicate oyster meat is describe as having meaty sweetness with hints of seaweed and mild coarseness .
Shigoku Oysters
Shigoku Oyster is a eccentric of Pacific huitre from Washington state
These huitre are form like a mussel and were released in 2009 . Shigoku oyster are a type of Pacific huitre from Willapa Bay and Samish Bay , Washington State . They have a firm meat with sweet and briny taste . They are up to 3″ ( 7.6 centimetre ) in size .
This oyster is one of the best tasting oyster and has many buff , and its name muse it – Shigoku means “ ultimate ” in Japanese .
Other Types of Oysters
Pacific oyster , Atlantic oyster , and European bland oyster are some of the world ’s most popular mollusk . Depending on unlike region of the world , there are some other multifariousness of oyster that are deserving assay .
Beausoleil Oysters
Beausoleil oysters are a case of Atlantic oysters grown in Canada
Beausoleil oysters develop in the cold piddle off the coast of New Brunswick , Canada . These are a minuscule type of Atlantic oyster ( Crassostrea virginica ) that raise to about 2.5 ” ( 6.3 cm ) long in 4 years .
These Atlantic oyster species have whitish - beige and gray shell and tasty firm meat . They have a sweet flavor with loco partial tone and you could also taste the ocean in each morsel . If you have never try oyster before , many oyster expert commend pop off with a few Beausoleil oysters .
Misty Point Oysters
In the impression : roasted misty oyster
Misty degree huitre are another type of Atlantic oyster that has a fast pursuit . They have a hard shell and an elongate oval configuration . They are from theBarrier Islands Virginia andgrow up to 3 ” ( 7.6 cm ) .
What is the flavor profile of Misty Point oyster ? They have a distinct brackish gustatory modality of the sea with earthy flavour . The substance is creamy and pleasantly firm .
Wellfleet Oysters
Wellfleet huitre are a type of Atlantic oyster grown in Massachusetts
Wellfleet oysters are a famous type of huitre harvested around the estuaries of Wellfleet , Massachusetts . The waters around this orbit of the Atlantic create the perfect environment for in high spirits - quality oysters .
The cold body of water serve the huitre grow a firm meaty muscle scrape and this results in a distinctly sugared flavor equate to other oyster specie . Also , the high saltiness and large tide result in a salty - tasting , intrepid character of oyster that stay fresh for a longsighted time .
Fine de Claire
Fine de Claire oysters are one of the best oyster in Europe
In Europe , one of the fine type of oysters you’re able to try is the Fine de Claire potpourri . This is a heavily - shelled mollusk with an stretch shape and rate among the ranking European huitre . The reason why these are top character huitre is that they are finished in salt ponds . This gives the delightful piquant oyster a sweeter and fruitier flavor than many other species of oyster .
How to Buy the Perfect Oyster
Oysters are generally eat stark naked and because of that , it ’s important only to buy the effective quality oysters uncommitted .
How can you pick out the fresh , sweetest , and most delicious oysters ? Here are a few helpful tips .
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