Duck Island Petite
Crassostrea virginica
A small, farm-raised oyster from Long Island Sound with extremely mild flavor and plump meat. Lightly brined with a notably sweet finish, perfect for those seeking a gentle introduction to East Coast oysters.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Sweet, clean, gentle
Expert Notes
Duck Island Petite oysters are prized for their extremely mild flavor profile and plump, tender meat. These small, farm-raised oysters from Long Island Sound showcase the gentle salinity of Connecticut waters with a notably sweet finish. Their delicate character and low brininess make them highly accessible while maintaining the rich, flavorful taste that Connecticut oysters are known for. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Long Island Sound, Connecticut, Long Island, New York
- Size
- Small (2.5-3 inches)
- Shell Color
- Gray-white
- Meat Color
- Plump, cream
What Experts Say
Across 5 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: plain brown, pale meat, flavor almost nonexistent, cocktail-sized
"Cute, plain brown little oysters from Long Island Sound. These 2.5-inch oysters are in the Caraquet category of nonthreatening. The shells are quite thick, the meats pale and plump, the flavor almost nonexistent."
mildplumpnonthreatening
"A cocktail-sized Bluepoint, the little sis of the Saddlerock."
cocktail-sizedmild
"Small, mild, easy"
smallmildeasy
"Our favorites of the night were: Duck Island Petite (NY), Moonstone (RI), Flying Point (ME), Totten Inlet (WA), Olympia (WA), and Kumamoto (WA)."
favoritesucculent
"plump meat, extremely mild flavor"
plumpextremely mild
About the Farm
Cultivated in Long Island Sound, described as the 'little sis of the Saddlerock' and a cocktail-sized version of the traditional Bluepoint oyster.
- Cultivation Method
- rack and bag
History & Background
Duck Island Petite oysters are a smaller variant from Long Island Sound, Connecticut, related to the historic Bluepoint and Saddle Rock oyster traditions of the region.
These oysters are positioned as an approachable, non-threatening introduction to East Coast oysters, often featured at oyster events like the Old Ebbitt Oyster Riot.
Did You Know?
- Described as the 'little sis of the Saddlerock'
- Featured at the Old Ebbitt Oyster Riot X where they were among favorites
- Farm raised to cocktail size (approximately 2.5 inches)
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 5 sources.
- Duck Island Petite - The Oyster Guide — oysterguide.com
- Duck Island Petite Oyster - Oysterater — oysterater.com
- Overwhelmed by Oysters — welovedc.com
- The Raw Oyster's Tasting Guide — therawoyster.com
- Duck Island Petite Oyster - Theodore International — theodore-international.com
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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)
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