Oyster Guide: June CSA
Thank you to everyone who signed up for this month’s Massachusetts Oyster CSA! The Buzzards Bay, Eastham, and Provincetown oysters featured this month all have their own unique brininess level, flavor profile, and texture. You may also find that oysters of the same variety are each a little different. Below we review the basics of these three oysters and some local beer, wine, and cocktail pairings.
Buzzards Bay: Buzzards Bay Oysters
Origin: Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts
Farmed: 12 - 24 months
Average Size: 2.5-3.5’
Flavor Notes: Briny & Sweet
How They’re Grown: The oysters are grown in floating cages on the surface of the water in Padanaram Harbor.
Beer Pairing: Lamplighter’s Jazz from Hell is the perfect pairing for these Buzzards Bay oysters.
Wine Pairing: We recommend Westport River Winery’s Farmer’s Fizz Brown Prosecco.
Cider Pairing: Try a citrus-forward cider such as Stormalong’s Light of the Sun.
Cocktail Pairing: You can’t go wrong pairing these Buzzards Bay oysters with a classic gin Martini.
Images by Buzzard’s Bay Oysters
Provincetown: Long Pointer Oysters
Origin: Provincetown, Massachusetts
Farmed: 12 - 24 months
Average Size: 2.5’
Flavor Notes: Briny & Crisp
How They’re Grown: Long Pointer Oysters are grown using both floating and bottom gear.
Beer Pairing: We love these oysters with a sour, crisp beer like Dorchester Brewing Company’s Cerebellum.
Wine Pairing: Try Cape Cod Winery’s Pinot Grigio with this Provincetown petite oyster.
Cider Pairing: We recommend pairing this petite oyster with Artifact Cider’s Wild Child.
Cocktail Pairing: This briny and crisp oyster is begging for a sweet and punchy drink like a mojito!
Image by Longpointer Oysters
Eastham: Blue Cord Oysters
Origin: Eastham, Massachusetts
Farmed: 12 - 24 months
Average Size: 3’
Flavor Notes: Salty & Briny
How They’re Grown: Blue Cord Seafood is a Veteran-owned seafood business and oyster farm that grows its salty oysters using the bag and rack method. With this method, oysters are submerged in water at high tide and exposed to air at low tide.
Beer Pairing: This salty oyster pairs perfectly with Cambridge Brewing Company’s Flower Child IPA.
Wine Pairing: We recommend Cape Cod Winery’s Nobska Light White Riesling with this salt bomb.
Cider Pairing: Try pairing this oyster with tart cider such as Dorchester Brewing Company’s Down to the Core.
Cocktail Pairing: This salty and briny oyster is perfect with a smokey and refreshing cocktail such as a mezcal Paloma.
This month’s mystery oyster
Barnstable Harbor: Moon Shoal Oysters
Origin: Barnstable Harbor, Massachusetts
Average Size: 2.5’
Flavor Notes: Briny, Salty, & Sweet
How They’re Grown: The farm is flooded with huge 10 ft tides, twice a day, every day, with the cool and crisp saltwater from Cape Cod Bay and beyond (Gulf of Maine). The big tidal flush, the thatch islands, the sandy bottom, and some freshwater creeks which run over the farms combine to give our oysters a “balanced by nature” flavor profile.
Beer Pairing: This balanced oyster pairs perfectly with Cambridge Brewing Company’s Working Class Hero American Saison with Citrus Peel.
Wine Pairing: Try Plymouth Bay Winery’s Drydock White with this oyster.
Cider Pairing: We recommend Citizen Cider’s Wit’s Up: a dry session cider that perfectly complements the Moon Shoals.
Cocktail Pairing: You can’t go wrong pairing this oyster with a gin and tonic with a squeeze of lemon.
Image by Moon Shoal Oysters