Gooseberry Bay
Crassostrea virginica
Farm-raised in floating bags in Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island. Briny with sweet, nutty astringency, firm plump meats, and abundant rich liquor from the nutrient-rich Cape Shore waters.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Sweet, nutty astringency with abundant liquor
Expert Notes
Gooseberry Bay oysters are farm-raised in floating bags in the pristine waters of Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island, alongside their sister varieties Blackberry Point and Conway Cup. The floating bag cultivation exposes them to sun and nutrient-rich tidal wash, developing exceptionally thick valves, firm meats, and abundant rich liquor. These Cape Shore oysters deliver a prominent briny punch balanced with sweet, nutty notes and a distinctive astringent finish that reflects the terroir of one of Canada's most celebrated oyster regions. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- North America
- Grown in
- Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island
- Size
- Medium (3-3.5 inches)
- Shell Color
- Thick, pale gray-white
- Meat Color
- Light colored, plump
What Experts Say
Across 6 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: brothy umami, oceany, abundant liquor
"Meaty, salty and oceany. Not quite as sweet as the name had me thinking. Firm flesh."
meatysaltyoceanyfirm
"Tasty session oyster of avg size and salt, complete as-is or with a few drops lemon, or champagne vinegar granita at Shaw's oyster bar, Chicago"
saltyaverage size
"Had these in February in Montreal–a notoriously tough time for Maritime oysters. They were excellent–lots of rich, brothy umami depth, and pretty firm."
richbrothyumamifirm
"Meats are pleasantly firm and are suspended in an abundance of rich liquor."
firmrich liquorabundant liquor
"Gooseberry Bay oysters are raised in floating bag exposing them to the sun and nutrient rich tidal wash, giving the oysters thick valves, firm meats and rich liquor."
firmrich liquorthick valves
About the Farm
Five Star Shellfish
Gooseberry Bays are farmed in Malpeque Bay and spend their entire grow out (four to five years) in ADPI bags, suspended at the top of the water column with positive buoyancy.
- Cultivation Method
- floating bags
History & Background
Farmed in the same fishery as Conway Cups and Blackberry Points in Malpeque Bay, Prince Edward Island. The oysters are raised using a distinctive floating bag method that sets them apart from their sister varieties.
Part of the trend of creatively-named Prince Edward Island oysters (alongside Raspberry Point, Blackberry Point). Rowan Jacobsen noted skepticism about whether an actual Gooseberry Bay exists, suggesting it may be a marketing name rather than a true geographic location.
Did You Know?
- Spend 4-5 years in grow-out, longer than many oyster varieties
- Exposure to sun through floating bag cultivation creates thicker shells than bottom-planted varieties
- Named in the tradition of PEI 'berry point' oysters, though the actual existence of a Gooseberry Bay location is questioned
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 6 sources.
- Gooseberry Bay — Oysterater
- Gooseberry Bay Oysters — Atlantic Aqua Farms
- LIVE OYSTERS — Fortune Fish & Gourmet
- Canadian Oyster Companion — Shucker Paddy
- Fresh Gooseberry Bay Oysters — Caudle's Catch Seafood
- A Guide to Oyster Eating — Worth Magazine
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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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