There is a wide variety of delicacies when it comes to seafood. However, few are as unique as Green Gill Oysters. These bivalves feature a distinct color and a rich almost mushroom-like flavor. These oysters have captured the attention of seafood lovers and culinary enthusiasts around the world. In this article we’ll discuss how these decadent morsels get their vibrant green gills.
Origins of Green Gills
In order to produce the bright green hue in their gills, these oysters grow in select coastal waters, where the conditions have to be just right for their unique development. According to a recent article by Rachael Manasseh, a Center for Environmental Farming Systems Intern in 2022, these oysters call home in areas such as the Marennes-Oléron region of France and right here in the sounds and reefs of Eastern North Carolina. It’s in these specific locations that Green Gill Oysters can thrive in the nutrient-rich waters.
The Color
It’s easy to pick out Green Gill Oysters from other types due to the vibrant green hue that adorns their gills. This color is a direct result of the oysters and their diet. One particular algae species, Haslea Ostrearia, holds the key to this change in color. This algae thrives in colder waters and produces a pigment that is known as “marennine”. As the oysters filter water with the algae in it, their gills take on the beautifully unique and distinctive blue-green color.
In Demand Delights
The thought of green seafood may have posed a challenge for some people to accept in the past. Now however, innovative chefs and seafood lovers are really championing Green Gill Oysters. These oysters have become a sought-after delicacy in North Carolina. Restaurants have done an amazing job presenting these bivalves and enhancing their unique and delicious flavor profile. You’ll find Green Gill Oysters in seafood towers, grilled, broiled, baked or even raw on the half-shell. They are sure to be delicious to no matter how you have them.
Seasonal and Sensational
Green Gill Oysters are a seasonal delicacy. These oysters are best savored during the witner and sprin months. As waters become warmer it is a little more difficult to find them and they become less abundant due to their lack of hue-producing food sources. To experience Green Gill Oysters, please make sure to reach out to us here to discuss when the best time to order is.
There are few things that compare to the unique and delicious flavors that Green Gill Oysters offer. These bi-valves have added an exclusive allure to enjoying oysters by offering a seasonal option loved by many. We are lucky enough to live and cultivate in a region where we have a chance to harvest these beautiful bi-valves for you to enjoy.
References: Manasseh, Rachael. "Get to Know Green Gill Oysters." Locals Seafood, Dec 12, 2022.{https://localsseafood.com/blog/get-to-know-green-gill-oysters/#:~:text=Another%20prime%20spot%2C%20perhaps%20surprisingly,green%20coloration%20of%20oyster%20gills.}