Oyster Varieties
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Acme Oyster House by Amy Dixon |
Half Shell Oyster Varieties
In North America there are at least 150 varieties of fresh oysters available for chefs to choose from for their menus. Yet all of these choices come from only 5 types of oysters: Kumamoto, Pacific oyster, Atlantic (Eastern) oyster, Olympia, and European Flats are the 5 species of oyster available in North America. It is from these 5 species that all the varieties spawn from.
Oyster flavor profiles have advanced to the point of being akin to wine tasting. Connoisseurs discuss the salinity & complexity of the oyster, the finish, the hints of melon or cucumber. Other common tastes found in oysters include seaweed, mineral, iron, copper, sweet, vegetal, lettuce, umami and mushroom. It can be rather daunting to remember it all. Below you will find our index to over 70 West Coast oyster varieties and 60 East Coast oyster varieties, as well as maps to oyster appellations. Each oyster profile includes flavor characteristics, oyster descriptions and seasonal availability.
Check-out the link for information on oyster cultivation methods and their effects upon oyster flavor profiles. Or see oyster farming for more detailed information about oyster aquaculture. Also, see shellfish storage for the best way to hold your shellfish. And our link to oyster shucking styles has descriptions and video of how to shuck oysters.
Oysters Index by Region
Current Fresh Oyster Availability
- Pacific Northwest varieties from Penn Cove Shellfish Oysters
- East Coast oyster varieties from JP's Shellfsh
Maps for Oysters by Region
Alphabetical Index for Pacific Northwest Oyster Varieties
- Amai
- Bald Point
- Barron Point
- Baynes Sound
- Baywater Sweet
- Brooklyn Creek
- Chef's Creek
- Chelsea Gem
- Cortes Island
- Dabob Bay
- Deep Bay
- Deer Creek
- Dosewallips
- Eagle Creek
- Eagle Rock
- Effingham
- Eld Inlet
- Elkhorn
- Emerald Cove
- Evening Cove
- Fanny Bay
- Fish Point
- Gold Creek
- Golden Mantle
- Hama Hama
- Hammersley
- Hawk's Point
- Hunter's Point
- Imperial Eagle
- Jorstad Creek
- Judd Cove- out of business
- Kachemak
- King's Gold
- Komo Gway
- Kumamoto
- Kusshi
- Little Skookum
- Malaspina
- Maple Point
- Marrowstone
- Metcalfe Bay
- Mirada
- Miyagi
- Naked Roy's Beach
- Netarts Bay - out of business
- Nootka Sound
- Okeover Organic
- Olympia
- Olympic Miyagi
- Otter Cove
- Oysterville Select
- Pearl Bay
- Pearl Point
- Pebble Cove (Pebble Beach)
- Penn Cove Select
- Phantom Creek
- Port Gamble
- Quadra Island - out of business
- Quilcene
- Reach Island
- Royal Miyagi
- Salish
- Samish Bay
- Shigoku
- Ship's Point
- Shoal Bay
- Sinku
- Sister Point
- Snow Creek
- Snow Creek Flat
- South Bay - Washington
- Stellar Bay
- Summer Ice
- Sun Hollow
- Sunset Beach
- Thorndyke
- Totten
- Totten Virginica
- Umpqua Triangle
- Westcott Bay Flat
- Westcott Bay Petite
- Wildcat Cove
- Willapa Bay
- Windy Point
- Yaquina Bay
Alphabetical Index for California Oyster Varieties
- Drake's Bay
- Hog Island Kumamoto
- Hog Island Sweetwater
- Hog Island Virginica
- Humboldt Gold
- Tomales Bay
Did you find the information about
Oyster Varieties useful? Or did you notice something which is missing on this page?
If so, please leave a comment.
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Steve, I do intend to add the gulf state oysters! If you have a list of some of your favorites post them here.
I like the site sand was looking at the oyster regions. Seems you have the entire US covered except the Gulf Coast! We eat oyster here year round and I was extremely suprised to see this area of the country was left out.
David, thank-you for the information! Snow Hills Oysters have been added.