Blackberry Point oyster illustration
Eastern Canada Researched

Blackberry Point

Crassostrea virginica

Cold-water Prince Edward Island oyster from Foxley River and Malpeque Bay. Large, reliably plump and deep-cupped with mild sweetness upfront and a pleasantly lingering medium-high salinity finish. Hand-tongued from small skiffs.

Brininess
Size Large
Shell deep cupped

Flavor Profile

Brininess 4/5
Sweetness 3/5
Minerality 3/5
Creaminess 3/5

Primary Flavors

Finish

Medium-high salinity, clean, pleasantly lingering

Expert Notes

Blackberry Point oysters are harvested from the pristine waters of Northwestern Prince Edward Island, where the Foxley River and Conway Narrows converge. These cold-water oysters resemble Malpeques in flavor but are more reliably plump and deep-cupped. The initial mild sweetness is beautifully balanced by a pleasantly lingering medium-high salinity in the finish, with the clean crispness characteristic of premium PEI oysters. Hand-tongued from small skiffs, these beach-grown oysters develop smooth shells and consistently full, meaty bodies.

Origin & Characteristics

Species
Crassostrea virginica
Native to
North America
Grown in
Foxley River, Prince Edward Island, Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island, Conway Narrows, Prince Edward Island
Size
Large (3-4 inches)
Shell Color
Smooth, light gray-white
Meat Color
Plump, cream to light gray

Perfect Pairings

Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring

What Experts Say

Across 7 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:

Unique notes: umami, mineral, crisp

"The initial mild sweetness of the Blackberry Point is juxtaposed by a pleasantly lingering medium-high salinity in the finish."

sweetsaltymild

"Lovely oyster .. Good salt and full meat"

saltyplump

"Large, plump, and consistently high-quality with mild sweetness and medium brininess. Clean, crisp flavor characteristic of cold water oysters."

sweetbrinycleancrispplump

"Deep cups, full plump meats with the clean crispness of a cold water oyster"

cleancrispplump

"Blackberry's are slightly briny with a unique salty taste. They are small, with a ton of brine and they have a perfect plumpness to avoid too much slurping."

brinysaltyplump

"Plump meats, medium brine, notes of umami and a clean, sweet mineral finish"

plumpbrinyumamicleansweet

About the Farm

Harvested from the waters of Northwestern Prince Edward Island where the Foxley River and the Conway Narrows blend together near Malpeque Bay.

Cultivation Method
bottom culture

History & Background

Blackberry Points are harvested from the northwestern coast of PEI, near the famous Malpeque Bay oyster region. They are hand-tongued from small skiffs using traditional methods.

Blackberry Points resemble Malpeque oysters in flavor but are more reliably plump and deep-cupped. They represent the cold-water Prince Edward Island oyster tradition.

Did You Know?

  • Hand-tongued from small skiffs using 14-foot hinged wooden poles
  • Available almost year-round despite cold northern waters
  • Named after the Blackberry Point area near Foxley River

Sources & References

This information was compiled from 7 sources.

  1. Blackberry Point Oysters — Atlantic Aqua Farms USA
  2. Blackberry Point Oyster — Oysterater
  3. Blackberry Point Oysters — Chefs Resources
  4. East Coast Oysters - 2024 — Catanese Classic Seafood
  5. LIVE OYSTERS - 2016 — Fortune Fish & Gourmet
  6. What Type of Oyster Eater Are You? — PA Eats
  7. OysterFinder — The Oyster Guide