Blue Point vs Kusshi
This East-meets-West matchup contrasts two medium-to-small oysters with very different temperaments. The Blue Point (Crassostrea virginica) is a classic Eastern oyster from the US East Coast, rating a brininess of 4 with briny and mineral primary flavors and a sharp, clean, refreshing finish. The Kusshi (Crassostrea gigas) is a small, tumbled Pacific oyster from British Columbia that comes in gentler at a brininess of 3, leading with clean, delicate, and briny notes and finishing clean with mild fruity hints. The Blue Point is the more sea-forward and assertive of the two; the Kusshi is more refined and delicate. Side by side they show how a coast and a species can move an oyster from brisk and salty to clean and understated.
| Attribute | Blue Point | Kusshi |
|---|---|---|
| Species | Crassostrea virginica | Crassostrea gigas |
| Region | US East Coast | British Columbia |
| Size | Medium | Small |
| Brininess | 4/5 | 3/5 |
| Sweetness | 2/5 | 3/5 |
| Minerality | 3/5 | 2/5 |
| Creaminess | 2/5 | 4/5 |
| Finish | Sharp, clean, refreshing | Clean with mild fruity notes |
| Primary flavors | Briny, Mineral | Clean, Delicate, Briny |
The oysters compared
Blue Point
US East CoastThe classic Atlantic oyster. Crisp, briny, with mineral notes and a sharp, clean finish.
Kusshi
British ColumbiaThe 'ultimate' tumbled oyster. Intensively shaped in mechanical drums to create a smooth, purple-black shell with an exceptionally deep cup and pillowy meat. Clean, delicate flavor with mild brininess.
Which should you choose?
Reach for the Blue Point if you want a brisker, saltier oyster with that classic Atlantic snap (brininess 4). Reach for the Kusshi if you prefer something cleaner and more delicate (brininess 3) with a smoother, fruitier finish. Neither is extreme, so this is a friendly pairing for someone exploring the middle of the spectrum.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a Blue Point and a Kusshi?
The Blue Point (Crassostrea virginica) is a briny Eastern oyster from the US East Coast, while the Kusshi (Crassostrea gigas) is a small, clean, delicate Pacific oyster from British Columbia. The Blue Point is saltier and more sea-forward; the Kusshi is more refined.
Which is milder, the Blue Point or the Kusshi?
The Kusshi is the milder of the two, with a brininess of 3 out of 5 compared with the Blue Point’s 4 out of 5, plus a cleaner, more delicate flavor.