Emerald Cove oyster illustration
Beginner Friendly British Columbia Researched

Emerald Cove

Crassostrea gigas

A suspended tray-cultured Pacific oyster from Denman Island, BC. Medium salinity with full, plump, creamy meats, clean mild flavor, and a distinctive cucumber finish. Beautiful green pearlescent shells.

Brininess
Shell deep cupped

Flavor Profile

Brininess 3/5
Sweetness 2/5
Minerality 2/5
Creaminess 4/5

Primary Flavors

Secondary Notes

Finish

Clean, mild cucumber finish

Expert Notes

Emerald Cove oysters are cultivated using the suspended tray method near Denman Island, BC, where they develop as the 'primadonnas' of oysters—protected from predators and silt throughout their lives. These Pacific oysters showcase medium salinity with exceptionally full, plump, creamy meats that deliver a clean, mild flavor profile. The distinctive cucumber finish and beautiful green pearlescent shells make them visually stunning, though their shells are brittle due to constant suspension cultivation.

Origin & Characteristics

Species
Crassostrea gigas
Native to
Japan
Grown in
Denman Island, British Columbia
Size
Medium to Large (3-3.5 inches)
Shell Color
Green pearlescent with fluted appearance
Meat Color
Cream

Perfect Pairings

Best Seasons: Fall, Winter, Spring

What Experts Say

Across 8 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:

Unique notes: creamed cucumber, pearlescent, mellow, smooth finish, lichen-green

"An oyster with a wonderfully pearlescent exterior shell. Turn these lichen-green beauties in your hand and watch the luster play across the surface. Inside you get the mild, creamed cucumber flavor common to this area."

mildcreamed cucumberpearlescent

"Medium briny flavor with a creamy texture and a mild cucumber finish."

brinycreamymildcucumber

"Characterized by notes of fresh, briny flavor and undertones of cucumber, the smooth finish and subtly creamy texture of these oysters will quickly make them your new go-to choice."

freshbrinycucumbersmoothcreamy

"The meat is full and plump with a mild, sweet and mellow finish."

fullplumpmildsweetmellow

"Grown off Denman Island in British Columbia, known for their pearlescent exterior and mild cucumber flavor."

mildcucumberpearlescent

About the Farm

Grown in the rich waters off Denman Island, British Columbia, in the Strait of Georgia. Denman Island shelters Baynes Sound and many BC oyster appellations from the open and wild Strait of Georgia.

Cultivation Method
suspended culture

History & Background

Emerald Cove oysters are part of the broader British Columbia oyster region, where the landscape is wild and unpolluted with very cold water. The Strait of Georgia offers endless calm hideaways for oysters, sheltered by the massive bulk of Vancouver Island.

Part of the Pacific Northwest oyster culture, these oysters represent the clean, mild flavor profile characteristic of British Columbia's coastal oyster farming tradition.

Did You Know?

  • The oysters have a distinctive lichen-green pearlescent shell that displays a stunning luster when turned in the light
  • Grown using suspended tray cultivation, which keeps them hanging in deep water and protected from predators and sediment
  • Available year-round from the cold waters of Denman Island

Sources & References

This information was compiled from 8 sources.

  1. Emerald Cove - British Columbia — The Oyster Guide
  2. Emerald Cove Oysters — Samuels Seafood
  3. Emerald Cove Oyster — Chefs Resources
  4. Emerald Cove Oysters — Gourmet Food World
  5. LIVE OYSTERS — Fortune Fish & Gourmet
  6. OYSTER VARIETIES — The Seafood Merchants
  7. Denman Island - British Columbia — The Oyster Guide
  8. British Columbia — The Oyster Guide