Explore our assortment of Atlantic oysters and their Oysterology profiles. The smooth, saucer-like species is often referred to as Belons, but technically they should only be called Belons when they are grown near the Belon River in Brittany, France. COMMON TYPES OF OYSTERS. We can either eat them raw or cooked, and they provide a substantial amount of Zinc, copper, and B vitamins. Kumamotos take a lot longer to grow, three years opposed to just two, and are significantly smaller. Generically known as Blue Points, Eastern oysters are also often named for their place of origin. American oysters differ as much as American people, so that the Atlantic Coast inhabitants spend their childhood and adolescence floating free and unprotected with the tides, conceived far from their mothers and their fathers too by milt let loose in the water near the eggs, while the Western oysters lie within special brooding chambers of the maternal shell, inseminated and … Extremely mild oysters, exhibiting a simple sweet-butter flavor, they are easily overshadowed by saltier or fruitier oysters, so they don’t fare well in tastings. To put it in simpler terms, they are Pacific oysters, Kumamoto oysters, Atlantic oysters, European flats and Olympia oysters. Atlantic Oysters … “It’s a really unique flavor, very coppery, like a French Belon, with a similar earthiness, kind of pungent.”. © 2021 CHOWHOUND, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. But on their own, with the most evanescent of wines, they can be a delicacy itself—a lesson in the pleasure of minimalism. Types of oysters While oysters come in all sorts of varieties, there are only five species of oysters in the U.S. Here’s the rundown on their origin, qualities + locations: Atlantic/Eastern | East Coast + Gulf of Mexico Origin: Native to North America; originated in late 20th century Look: Large + smooth teardrop-shape shell The oyster that begs the question: Nature or nurture? Looking to amp up your beef stew but unsure where to start? Oysters from the Atlantic tend to be 3 to 5 inches long (7.5 to 13 cm.) What they lack in size, they make up for in flavor. © Copyright 2021 Meredith Corporation. The French Kiss is typically brinier with a finish that is subtly sweet. Cooks Cocktails have a crisp clean finish and a … There are about 150 edible types of clams, but only a handful of them are commonly available commercially.. 1. It soon replaced the flat oyster on the Atlantic coast. The Rochambeaus, grown nearby in the brackish water where the York River meets the Chesapeake Bay, are a bit saltier, slightly less sweet, and cleaner on the palate. “If you put out in front of ten people, eight would hate it and two would think it is the greatest thing they had in their life: it’s earthy and tastes like a car bumper—in a good way.”, Clockwise from far left: European flat, Eastern, Kumamoto, Pacific, and Olympia, | As the oysters grow, they are spread over the sandy bottom. During the 1920's, the flat oyster was almost completely wiped out by massive mortality rates. Atlantic Oyster (Eastern) - This oyster is native to the Atlantic coast of the America's … In the US, oysters grow in blooms of millions at a time on the coasts of Washington, California, Alabama, Maine, and others.The diversity found in US waters gives other famous oyster countries, like France, a run for its money. By signing up, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. To All Oysters. Here are the big five, so you know what exactly you’re slurping. Types of Oysters. Wild Atlantic Oyster is the brand representing all 4 oyster producers in Sligo Bay, on Ireland’s North West coast. But they are distinctly different from their West Coast cousins, with a larger tear-drop shape, smoother shell, and, while generally described as sweeter and brinier than Pacifics, the flavors vary drastically according to the water temperature and the individual bed in which they are grown. … The oyster that put the fruit back in fruits de mer. The moss-colored, flat-shelled oyster is now harvested wild in New England and is farmed both in Maine as well as Washington State to a much smaller extent. Oysterology Farms. This creates different types of oysters, and the most common are Olympia Oysters, Kumamoto Oysters, European Flats (or Belon Oysters), Sydney Rock Oysters, Pacific Oysters, and Atlantic Oysters. But farmers will occasionally use their own proprietary names for their crop, such as Morro Bay Oyster Company’s Pacific Golds and Hog Island Oyster Company’s Sweetwaters.