Great White
Crassostrea virginica
Cape Cod's flagship oyster from Barnstable Harbor. Large with thick shells and dense, savory meats. Distinctively briny and mineral-forward with a powerful ocean taste shaped by twice-daily tidal flows.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Strong, clean, ocean-like
Expert Notes
Great White oysters are the flagship brand from Cape Cod Oyster Company, showcasing the distinctive 'ocean-in-a-shell' flavor that defines Cape Cod merroir. Hand-grown in Barnstable Harbor and fed by the nutrient-rich waters of North Bay, these oysters benefit from strong tidal flows twice daily, developing thick shells and dense, savory meats with pronounced minerality and salinity. The powerful briny character and pure ocean taste reflect their exposure to the Atlantic's mineral-rich waters. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Barnstable Harbor, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Size
- Large (3-5 inches)
- Shell Color
- White with thick shells
- Meat Color
- Ivory to cream
What Experts Say
Across 6 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: tannic, mineral, ocean-in-a-shell, full-bodied
"High salinity with a sweet after-taste. The strong ebb and flow of ocean tides twice a day supply our oysters with a diet rich in minerality and salinity creating a distinctive ocean-in-a-shell flavor."
brinysweetmineral
"Bright medium salinity that tapers off with notes of green melon citrus and cucumber."
brinymeloncitruscucumber
"Super fresh and briny, with hints of green melon, citrus, and cucumber. Pure ocean taste."
brinyfreshmeloncitruscucumber
"Another of those white, salty, full-bodied, tannic, brittle-shelled Long Island oysters. Great Whites, as you'd expect from the name, are pretty big, and usually good value."
saltyfull-bodiedtannic
"Mildly briny with sweet, creamy notes and a smooth finish."
brinysweetcreamysmooth
About the Farm
Cape Cod Oyster Company
Est. 1983Farming since 1983, Cape Cod Oyster Company is one of the largest oyster growers in New England, responsible for 10 percent of all Massachusetts oyster production. Known for their commitment to sustainability and traceability.
- Cultivation Method
- bottom culture
History & Background
Great White Oysters are Cape Cod Oyster Company's flagship brand, available in over 40 states year-round since the company's founding in 1983.
Found in some of the country's best restaurants, restaurant chains, and retail outlets from large to small. Represents Cape Cod's oyster heritage and the region's distinctive merroir.
Did You Know?
- Available 52 weeks per year due to sustainable farming practices
- Begin as seedlings in North Bay and are hand grown in Barnstable Harbor
- Twice-daily tidal flows supply rich minerality and salinity
- Note: Some confusion exists with Long Island Sound oysters of the same name
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 6 sources.
- Great White Oysters | Cape Cod Oyster Company — capeoysters.com
- Great White - The Oyster Guide — oysterguide.com
- Great White Oysters - The Oyster Encyclopedia — oysterencyclopedia.com
- Great White Oysters - EURO USA — eurousa.com
- The Great White oysters from Cape Cod - El Nuevo Día — facebook.com
- Cape Cod Oyster Company — capeoysters.com
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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
Read article → Merroir & EnvironmentWhat is Merroir? The Science of How Environment Shapes Oyster Flavor
Understanding merroir - the marine equivalent of terroir - and how water chemistry creates flavor
Read article →