Fancy Sweet
Crassostrea virginica
Small cage-grown oyster from New Brunswick requiring nearly four years to reach market size. Bold ocean aroma with notably sweet flavor, darker meat from cold, mineralized waters.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Sweet, clean, fresh ocean finish
Expert Notes
Fancy Sweet is the smallest cage-grown Carraquette oyster on the market, requiring nearly four years of cultivation to reach market size. Grown in super cold, highly mineralized waters of New Brunswick, these oysters develop a darker meat color and bold ocean aroma that contributes to their uniqueness. Despite the intense mineral profile, they deliver a notably sweet flavor that lives up to their name, with a fresh, clean finish that reflects their pristine growing environment. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- North America
- Grown in
- Carraquette, New Brunswick
- Size
- Small (1.75-2.25 inches)
- Shell Color
- Gray-white with durable shell
- Meat Color
- Darker cream to gray
Perfect Pairings
What Experts Say
Across 6 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: dark meat, bold ocean aroma, strong oyster flavor, mineralized
"The size was petite and almost looked a bit bashful or shy. The thin body broke instantly upon chewing and released a slightly salty, yet surprisingly metallic briny flavor."
petitesaltymetallicbriny
"The Kusshi from Deep Bay, British Columbia... The pillowy meat tasted of crisp cucumber and copper. There was a slightly lemon aftertaste."
cucumbercopperlemon
"Fancy Sweet is the smallest cage grown Carraquette oyster on the market place. Nearly four years of cultivation to reach market size, this farmed oyster has a bold ocean aroma. The sweet, strong oyster flavor is recognizable from its darker meat as a result of the super cold, mineralized waters."
sweetstrongoceanmineraldark meat
"very petite, very delicious"
petitedelicious
"They have a crisp cucumber taste with a slightly lemon aftertaste."
cucumbercrisplemon
About the Farm
Carraquette/Caraquet Bay Producers
Grown in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, these are the smallest cage-grown Carraquette oysters on the market, requiring nearly four years of cultivation to reach market size in the super cold, mineralized waters of the region.
- Cultivation Method
- rack and bag
History & Background
Fancy Sweet oysters are cultivated in Caraquet Bay, New Brunswick, and represent the smallest variety of cage-grown Carraquette oysters available commercially.
Popular in New York oyster bars and served at establishments like Essex Restaurant in the Lower East Side, where they are featured alongside other premium oyster varieties.
Did You Know?
- Takes nearly four years to reach market size despite being one of the smallest oysters on the market
- The darker meat coloration comes from the super cold, mineralized waters of New Brunswick
- Sometimes spelled 'Carraquette' in reference to the oyster type from this region
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 6 sources.
- New York Oyster Lovers at Essex — In A Half Shell
- Superior Foods Oysters Information Sheet — Superior Foods
- Fancy Sweet — Oysterater
- Oyster Tasting Log — Peek & Eat
- OysterFinder — The Oyster Guide
- Your Easy Guide To Oysters! Be The Mutha Shucka You Are! — Chef It Up Today
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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)
Read article → Biology & SpeciesThe Atlantic Oyster (C. virginica): From Maritime Brine to Gulf Sweetness
Deep dive into America's indigenous East Coast oyster - flavor profiles, regional variations, and famous varieties
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Understanding merroir - the marine equivalent of terroir - and how water chemistry creates flavor
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