Genuine Blue Point
Crassostrea virginica
The legendary Long Island oyster harvested from Great South Bay for over two centuries. Strong, briny, and robust with satiny meats, a fresh crisp texture, and a sweet aftertaste that sparkles with mineral salinity.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Sweet aftertaste that sparkles with salinity
Expert Notes
The most famous of all American oysters, harvested around Long Island for centuries. Genuine Blue Points deliver a fresh, crisp, firm texture with moderately high salinity and a briny punch. The satiny, almost liquid meats feature a characteristic sweet aftertaste with a sparkling mineral finish. Always big, strong, wild, and a bit uncouth—not for sissies, but beloved by connoisseurs for their authentic, robust Long Island character. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Great South Bay, Suffolk County, New York, Long Island Sound, New York
- Size
- Medium to Large (3-4 inches)
- Shell Color
- Gray-white with heavy, gnarly texture
- Meat Color
- Satiny, almost liquid appearance
What Experts Say
Across 8 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: melon, cucumber, tannin, iron, satiny, springy
"Generally, Blue Point oysters have satiny, almost liquid meats with a high brininess and very mild flavor"
brinysatinymild
"This is a mild Atlantic oyster. The quality and look are the same. These used to be inexpensive and readily available however now they are pricey and limited in quantity as any specialty oyster."
mild
"Medium salinity, springy meat, and a light mineral finish"
medium salinityspringymineral
"Briny, juicy, plump, fresh flavors of the sea. No fishy or metallic flavor nor finish. Mild hints of melon and cucumber. Soft and tender consistency, but not mushy."
brinyjuicyplumpmeloncucumber
"Briny, clean and plump with a sweet mineral finish"
brinycleanplumpsweetmineral
"They have a clean soft salt taste with a buttery finish (Skinny Dippers variety from Maryland Chesapeake)"
cleansoft saltbuttery
"epitome of East End oysters – bright and briny up front, delicate with hints of tannin and iron on the finish"
brightbrinydelicatetanniniron
About the Farm
Blue Island Shellfish Farms
Est. 1995Blue Island Shellfish Farms opened in 1995 and is now recognized as the only producer of genuine Blue Point Oysters from the original Great South Bay location near Blue Point, Long Island.
- Cultivation Method
- bottom culture
History & Background
Blue Point Oysters originated near the town of Blue Point, Long Island, situated on Great South Bay, New York. In the early 1800s they were famous for their robust, wild flavor and became the favorite oyster for New Yorkers and even Queen Victoria. The name became generic over time due to legal dilution, applying to any Long Island or Connecticut oyster, but the genuine article from Great South Bay has been revived by modern farms.
The Blue Point became so popular and iconic that it evolved into a generic term for East Coast oysters, similar to how Kleenex became synonymous with tissues. Mark Kurlansky wrote about them in 'The Big Oyster,' noting their historical significance. They have been harvested from Great South Bay for over two centuries.
Did You Know?
- A 'true honest bushel' comprised of 400 oysters in the past; today it's generally accepted to be 200
- Queen Victoria was a noted fan of genuine Blue Point oysters
- The original Bluepoint name became so diluted by law that it could apply to oysters from as far away as Virginia
- Norm Bloom & Son claims to supply 8 out of 10 'Bluepoints' on the market today
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 8 sources.
- Blue Point Oyster Taste — Chefs Resources
- Bluepoint Oysters: Then and Now — In A Half Shell
- Blue Point Oyster — Oysterology Online — Pangea Shellfish
- Red Tiger Seafood - Home — Red Tiger Seafood
- Shamrock Oyster Company – Genuine Blue Point Oysters — Shamrock Oyster Company
- The Amorous Oyster A Primer on the World's Tastiest Bivalve — Vintage Assessments
- Oyster List - Blue Point Seafood — Blue Point Seafood Restaurant
- Oyster Fisherman - Oysterponds Shellfish Company — Facebook
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Learn More
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