Calm Cove
Crassostrea gigas
Beach-grown Pacific oyster from Washington's Totten Inlet and Hood Canal. Sweet and creamy with balanced brininess and a clean mineral finish. Cultivated by the Fagergren Family since 1946 in the nutrient-rich waters of South Puget Sound.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Mineral, clean, lingering
Expert Notes
Calm Cove oysters are grown by the Fagergren Family, who have been farming the rich waters of Totten Inlet since 1946. These beach-grown Pacifics are bag-started and beach-finished, developing thick, hard shells from their intertidal cultivation. The incredibly productive waters of South Puget Sound impart a sweet, creamy character balanced with moderate brininess and a distinctive mineral finish. Plump, well-formed meats deliver a full, rich flavor that showcases the terroir of Hood Canal's pristine waters. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea gigas
- Native to
- Japan
- Grown in
- Hood Canal, Washington, Totten Inlet, South Puget Sound, Washington
- Size
- Medium to Large (3-4.5 inches)
- Shell Color
- White with fluted ridges
- Meat Color
- Cream to light gray
Perfect Pairings
What Experts Say
Across 6 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: melon, earthy, balanced minerality
"Beach-grown Pacifics from the famed shores of Totten Inlet, in South Puget Sound, an incredibly rich and productive body of water known for sweet, creamy oysters with a balanced minerality."
sweetcreamymineralbalanced
"Beach-grown oyster from the southern, less marine, more earthy end of Hood Canal. It has an initial brine that doesn't linger but gives way to a high minerality and subtle cucumber notes."
brinymineralcucumberearthy
"Typical cucumber west coast profile, very nice."
cucumber
"The oysters taste mildly salty and the meats tend to have a higher fat content, and are both plump and sweet."
mildly saltysweetplump
"The oysters tend to have moderate initial salt, followed by a bit of sweetness and finish with a hint of melon or cucumber."
moderate saltsweetmeloncucumber
About the Farm
Calm Cove Oyster Company, LLC (Fagergren Family)
Est. 1946The Fagergren Family has been farming oysters in the same location in Totten Inlet since 1946. They carefully watch oyster condition and harvest at peak season.
- Cultivation Method
- bag to beach
History & Background
Calm Cove oysters have been cultivated by the Fagergren Family on historic tidelands in Totten Inlet since 1946, representing nearly 80 years of continuous family farming in the same location.
These oysters are grown in Totten Inlet, part of South Puget Sound, which is recognized as an incredibly rich and productive body of water that produces distinctive oysters characteristic of the Pacific Northwest.
Did You Know?
- Totten Inlet is known as the 'famed shores' for producing sweet, creamy oysters with balanced minerality
- The oysters are bag started then beach finished, developing thick shells characteristic of beach-grown oysters
- Also listed as grown in Hammersley Inlet, which connects to Totten Inlet in South Puget Sound
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 6 sources.
- Calm Cove Oyster Flavor Profile — Hama Hama Oysters
- Calm Cove Oyster — Oysterater
- Oyster Varieties Guide — The Seafood Merchants
- USA Pacific Northwest Oysters — ETAK
- Calm Cove Oyster Co. — Calm Cove Oysters
- Oyster Merroir of Puget Sound and Hood Canal — Hama Hama Oysters
Learn More
The Big Five: A Complete Guide to Commercial Oyster Species
Comprehensive guide to C. virginica (Atlantic), C. gigas (Pacific), C. sikamea (Kumamoto), O. lurida (Olympia), and O. edulis (European Flat)
Read article → Biology & SpeciesThe Pacific Oyster (C. gigas): Cream, Cucumber, and the Japanese Legacy
Understanding the world's most cultivated oyster - from Japanese origins to West Coast dominance
Read article → Merroir & EnvironmentWhat is Merroir? The Science of How Environment Shapes Oyster Flavor
Understanding merroir - the marine equivalent of terroir - and how water chemistry creates flavor
Read article →