Who’s Got the World’s Best Oysters?

Look up “the World’s Best Oysters,” and you’ll find many answers. The French, however, believe theirs are the best … and they believe it with a passion. The French are so passionate about their oysters that they consume more of the hard-shelled delicacies than they export. 

The Art Of Eating An Oyster

Along with enjoying the taste of an oyster, there’s a type of French “etiquette” about oyster eating. Nancy McGee, my friend and guest writer for the Barefoot Blogger, has provided us with a guide.

Some Pearls of Wisdom

Oyster farming is a thriving part of the culture and economy of the Étang de Thau (the Thau Lagoon between Sète and Bouzigues) in the Languedoc Roussillon. The picturesque town of Bouzigues produces the most sought-after oysters in Europe. That is because oysters grown in the lagoons are considered much tastier than their ocean-produced counterparts due to the higher density of salt in the lagoons.

Even Bouzigues’ extensive oyster bed is hard-pressed to meet worldwide demand. My theory is that the local population consumes more than its fair share! It is not uncommon to see a glass of wine and 6 oysters consumed at the local indoor market as early in the day as breakfast.

Myths and Misunderstandings

Oyster myths and misunderstandings abound, so I decided to educate myself by going to Bouzigues’ oyster museum (well worth the visit) and talking with local merchants and restaurant owners about oyster facts. I learned that not all oysters are created equal; there is quite a hierarchy. Yes, size does matter.

Oysters range in sizes from 1 to 6 or 7. Size one is the largest, yet the lowest in the taste “pecking order.” Nevertheless, it emerges triumphant when baked ‘au gratin’ with parsley, garlic, butt, er, and breadcrumb,nt. For the more minor, bluer-blooded relations, a size 3 or 4 simply demands raw consumption. Cremating them in an oven would be an unfortunate ending.

 More on that later. First, we need to know how to open – or shuck – the oyster.

Shucking an Oyster (and Leaving Your Fingers Intact)

Special chain mail gloves are available for those wary of injuring their hands b,ut save your money. Instead, purchase a bottle of Languedoc white Picpoul de Pinet wine. For enjoying oysters, it’s a marriage made in heaven. It ensures your oysters’ last moments are happy ones (they will still be alive, after all). Just follow these directions,s and shucking will prove a painless experience:

Wrap the oyster in a tea towel or cloth, the flatter shell facing upwards and the hinge pointing towards you.

Grip the oyster/shucking knife firmly and insert it into the small hold in the hinge. A short knife with a robust and blunt blade can substitute for an oyster knife.

Do not use a sharp kitchen knife. Twist the oyster knife until the shells snap apart (like turning the ignition key in a car). Then, run the knife blade backward and forward along the upper shell to sever the muscle holding the two shells together.

Gently remove the top shell, taking care not to spill any liquid inside. It is a good idea to open the oysters over a bowl. Some people prefer to empty the fluid,d but to their surprise, as the oyster is alive, it will refill with water it has been storing.

How To Savour Your Oyster

Now that you have successfully shucked your oyster, how should you eat it? Heated debate centers around this question: swallowed whole – or chewed first? No oyster aficionado would forego the subtle flavors (nut or cucumber, depending on the season) released when gently chewed.

What accompaniments should you serve with the oyster? Nothing at all, say the experts – especially given the tastiness of Bouzigues oysters.

The North American tradition of adding horseradish or hot sauce is considered tantamount to manslaughter! However, French restaurants offer the option of adding a few drops of lemon or shallot vinegar, which will not detract from the natural flavors. (Lemon originally was used to check if the oyster was alive: if alive, it ‘cringes’ when the juice is applied.)

Oyster Facts

• Oysters can live outside of water for up to 10 days and are good travelers – producers from Bouzigues have exported their oysters to China.
• Oysters in water can live up to 20 years.
• Oysters are bisexual. Born as males, they produce sperm, become egg-producing females, and later switch back to male.
• Oysters can release around 1 million eggs in one spawning season.
• A rich source of vitamins, eating six oysters a day also meets the daily recommended intake of many minerals.
• What are the odds of finding a pearl in an oyster?