Reach Island Oyster Flavor Profile Characteristics

Reach Island OystersSee image licensing info

Reach Island Oysters are a Pacific Northwest oyster from one of the Southern Puget Sound oyster appellations in Washington State. They are a wild beach raised oyster from Case Inlet. They start their life in Oakland Bay, CA where they grow quickly on the nutrient rich waters there, and then are moved to Washington to finish growing to market size.

Reach Island sits in the shadow of the Olympic Mountains where the waters are fresh and clean. The beach is made up of small pebbles and many of the oysters have small, smooth rocks attached. Their shells are strong with accents of emerald green. Because of the rocky beach environment Reach Island oysters are easy to clean with minimal mud or silt attached. They have plump meats with a high brininess and a sweet taste.

They are an Intertidal Beach Cultured Oyster. Beach cultured oysters are raised on tidal beaches with sandy or rocky bottoms. They are accustomed to fighting the tides, clamping tightly shut during low tides to preserve their “liquor” and to protect themselves against predators. Because of this “tough” life, beach raised oysters are hearty. They have hard, sturdy shells which shuckers like to work with. And their ability to close tightly, coupled with their hard shells, gives them a longer shelf life.

 

Reach Island Oyster
Location Reach Island, Case Inlet, Southern Puget Sound, WA
Species Pacific Oyster (Crassostrea gigas)
Oyster Availability September – July
Size up to 3 1/2″
Salinity 3.3% (3.5% is full ocean salinity)
Oyster Cultivation Wild Beach Cultivated
Oyster Flavor Profile Reach Island Oysters have plump meats with a high brininess and a sweet taste.

See proper shellfish storage methods for the best way to maintain the shelf life and flavor of your oysters. Also, check-out our list of where to buy raw oysters.

 

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