Gillardeau
Crassostrea gigas
The luxury standard. Exceptionally plump and creamy with intense minerality, sweet nuttiness, and refined balance from France's legendary fourth-generation oyster dynasty.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Long, intensely mineral with sweet notes
Expert Notes
Often called 'the Rolls-Royce of oysters,' Gillardeau defies its Pacific species origins by presenting an intensely mineral finish more reminiscent of Atlantic oysters. The claire-finishing in Marennes-Oléron salt ponds develops exceptional creaminess and a perfect balance between sweet nuttiness and bracing minerality. The generous, plump meat delivers rich, buttery texture with remarkable depth. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea gigas
- Native to
- Asia (Pacific oyster species)
- Grown in
- Marennes-Oléron (finishing), Normandy (initial grow-out), County Cork, Ireland (initial grow-out)
- Size
- Large (3.5-4.5 inches)
- Shell Color
- Gray-brown with laser-engraved logo
- Meat Color
- Cream-white with plump flesh
What Experts Say
Across 10 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: sugar and salt together, frankincense, hazelnut, scent of the sea, elastic
"It has a uniquely chewy and crunchy texture, with the scent of the sea and a soft nutty taste."
chewycrunchyscent of the seanutty
"A genuine Gillardeau oyster should have a full shell, a pristine white lining, and taste like sugar and salt together."
sweetsaltysugar and salt
"This tender-bodied oyster is rolling with rich, briny flavors."
tenderrichbriny
"Each oyster offers a beautiful balance of brininess and sweetness with a nutty finish. The meat is plump and creamy."
brinysweetnuttyplumpcreamy
"A succulent and plump oyster with a distinct flavor profile that is both sweet and salty, with a hint of nuttiness."
succulentplumpsweetsaltynutty
"The meat is plump and firm, with distinct taste, elastic and chewy, and a mixture of frankincense and a hint of hazelnut flavor."
plumpfirmelasticchewyfrankincense
About the Farm
Maison Gillardeau
Est. 1898Founded by Henri Gillardeau in 1898 in the heart of the Marennes-Oléron basin, driven by his passion for oyster farming. Now operated by the fourth generation, the family has brought an economics education to what has become the most famous name in oysters.
- Cultivation Method
- rack and bag
History & Background
At the end of the 19th century, in 1898, Henri Gillardeau laid the foundations of Maison Gillardeau in Bourcefranc-le-Chapus on the French Atlantic coast. Over four generations, the family has maintained their tradition of oyster farming and brought innovation to oyster cultivation.
Known as 'The Rolls-Royce of Oysters,' Gillardeau is a favorite of many high-end restaurants worldwide. The company invested nearly five million euros in laser technology to brand each oyster shell with a 'G' logo to combat counterfeiting, making them the first oyster company in the world to laser-mark their product.
Did You Know?
- Each Gillardeau oyster is branded with a laser-etched 'G' on the shell to prevent counterfeiting
- The company invested nearly 5 million euros in laser technology to protect their brand
- Gillardeau oysters go through 59 complex procedures and take at least 4 years to produce
- The company now produces roughly half its oysters in Normandy near Utah Beach and half in County Cork, Ireland
- Considered the luxury standard and crème de la crème among French oyster varieties
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 10 sources.
- A Guide to The World's Oysters and What They Taste Like — MICHELIN Guide
- This French Oyster is hitting the G Spot — The Peak Magazine
- Best Oysters to Travel the World For — In A Half Shell
- Gillardeau oysters — Wikipedia
- History of Maison Gillardeau — Maison Gillardeau
- Gillardeau Oysters - The Oyster Encyclopedia — The Oyster Encyclopedia
- A French family dynasty reinvents the oyster — The New York Times
- Oyster of the Month of December 2022: The Gillardeau — Oysters and Caviar
- Gillardeau oysters n2 - 12 pieces — Secrets Fine Food
- Gillardeau oysters: how to build a gastronomic luxury brand — Lantern
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Learn More
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