Bluffton
Crassostrea virginica
Wild-harvested from South Carolina's May River near Bluffton. Intensely briny with powerful umami character and silky texture. Among the best southern oysters, showcasing the exceptional quality of the Lowcountry's pristine ACE Basin.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Strong, lingering, oceanic
Expert Notes
Bluffton oysters are wild-harvested from the pristine May River near Bluffton, South Carolina, in the heart of the ACE Basin Lowcountry. These exceptional oysters are intensely briny with extraordinarily high salinity levels (31-35 ppt, saltier than the sea itself), creating explosive umami flavors that demand a beer pairing. The deep, silky texture and bold, complex taste make them some of the best southern oysters available, representing the emerging quality of South Carolina's slumbering oyster industry. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- May River, Bluffton, South Carolina
- Size
- Medium (2.5-4 inches)
- Shell Color
- Gray-white
- Meat Color
- Cream
What Experts Say
Across 8 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: one-of-a-kind salty/savory flavor profile, taste of the May River
"Oysters are like wine; they carry the flavor of the place they come from. The water temperature, the salinity, the plankton — it all comes together to make each oyster unique. The briny, clean finish is exactly what we're looking for."
brinycleansalty
"Part of what makes our area's oysters the best is our extreme tides. Unlike many other varieties, Lowcountry oysters spend much of their time above water when the tide is low. This, coupled with the unique briny salinity of our area's waterways (particularly the May River) makes for a one-of-a-kind salty/savory flavor profile that few others can match."
brinysaltysavory
"Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica), prized for its teardrop shape and briny finish."
briny
"Bluffton oysters are (arguably) some of the tastiest oysters that can be found."
About the Farm
Bluffton Oyster Company
Est. 1899A family-run operation owned by the Toomer family since 1899, it's the last remaining hand-shucking oyster house in South Carolina. The company sits on reclaimed land built up by over a hundred years of discarded oyster shells.
- Cultivation Method
- wild harvest
History & Background
The Bluffton Oyster Company has been in operation since 1899, owned by the Toomer family. Simpson V. Toomer settled in the Hilton Head Island area in the early 1900s. Larry Toomer, a third-generation seafood worker, continues the family tradition. The oyster business thrived in early Bluffton throughout the 1920s with five different oyster operations in the area. During the 'Heyday of the Canner' period (1900-1945), the oyster industry was one of South Carolina's biggest industries, accounting for up to 3,500 jobs with 27 shucking houses along the coast at its peak in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Bluffton Oyster Company is now the last hand-shucking oyster house in South Carolina, serving as a reminder of an industry that once powered the state. It remains a beloved local institution where visitors can watch boats unload, women shuck oysters, and soft shell crabs shed. The operation is unique in that nothing arrives or leaves by truck - everything comes from and goes to the water.
Did You Know?
- The Bluffton Oyster Company sits on reclaimed land built up by more than a hundred years of discarded oyster shells
- All oysters are harvested and shucked by hand, employing 15 oyster pickers and up to 12 oyster shuckers daily
- Featured on PBS's 'America the Bountiful' series
- Founded in 1899, making it over 125 years old
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 8 sources.
- A guide to oysters — LOCAL Life SC
- The Bluffton Oyster Co. — Bluffton Oyster Company
- About Us - oysters, shrimp, crabs and fish in Bluffton near Hilton Head — Bluffton Oyster Company
- 4 Things You Should Know About Lowcountry Oysters — Charter One Realty Blog
- All About South Carolina Oysters — Discover South Carolina
- Bluffton Oyster Company Keeps on Shucking — South Carolina Tourism
- Bluffton Oyster Company — Airial Travel
- America the Bountiful | Oysters in South Carolina — PBS
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