Irish Point
Crassostrea virginica
A cocktail-sized PEI oyster with striking bright green shells. High salinity with a powerful brine that transitions to a sweet, earthy, citrus finish. Excellent meat quality from cold northern waters.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Crisp, earthy, citrus finish with lingering brine
Expert Notes
Irish Point oysters are distinctive cocktail-sized beauties from Prince Edward Island's North Shore, known for their striking bright green shells that resemble shamrocks. These off-bottom-grown oysters lead with a powerful volley of high salinity that transitions across the palate, yielding to a sweet, earthy finish with citrus notes. The cold waters and strong tides between Hope River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence produce oysters with excellent meat quality, full meats, and a dynamic flavor profile that changes as you taste them. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Rustico, Prince Edward Island, New London Bay, Prince Edward Island, Hope River, PEI
- Size
- Small (2.5-3 inches)
- Shell Color
- Bright green with clean, strong shells
- Meat Color
- Cream to light gray
What Experts Say
Across 8 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: earthy, citrus, tender texture
"A tender texture and sweet brine with a smooth mineral finish."
tendersweetbrinemineralsmooth
"Superb salty taste is the result of the cold water and strong tides that run between Hope River and the Gulf of St. Lawrence."
saltysuperb
"Their superb salty taste and earthy, citrus finish."
saltyearthycitrus
"Irish Point Oysters are some of the cleanest, most consistent, and well-balanced oysters to come out of the Atlantic."
cleanconsistentwell-balanced
"Uniquely sweet, then salty, her finish is smooth and clean with a touch of mineral. Easy-to-shuck."
sweetsaltysmoothcleanmineral
"Sweet and flavorful–no need for any lemon, or mignonette. Another excellent PEI oyster."
sweetflavorful
"These little oysters had a ton of flavor. Wonderfully clean, more brine than I expected and very easy to eat."
flavorfulcleanbriny
"Not enormous flavor, but lightly balanced ocean."
balancedlightocean
About the Farm
Raspberry Point Oyster Co.
Est. early 1990sBeginning in the early 1990's, Raspberry Point Oyster Co. has blossomed into one of North America's most sought-after oyster producers, raising multiple brands of oysters in the picturesque cool, clear waters off Prince Edward Island.
- Cultivation Method
- floating bags
History & Background
Irish Point oysters are grown in Rustico Harbour and Hope River area of Prince Edward Island, taking 4-6 years to reach market size due to the northern cold waters.
Part of the renowned Raspberry Point Oyster Co. family of brands, which includes Raspberry Point, Daisy Bay, Pickle Point, Lucky Limes, Shiny Sea, and Rustico oysters.
Did You Know?
- Their shells can take on beautiful hues of green depending on the time of year, a reflection of the algae-rich waters
- The cages are sunk in the winter to avoid massive ice sheets
- These are some of the most northern stocks of oysters in North America
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 8 sources.
- Irish Point Oyster — Oysterology Online — Pangea Shellfish Company
- Irish Point Oysters — Raspberry Point Oyster Co.
- Know Your Oysters - Raspberry Point — Raspberry Point Oyster Co.
- Irish Point Oyster — Aphrodite Oysters — Aphrodite Oysters
- Irish Point Oysters » Atlantic Aqua Farms USA — Atlantic Aqua Farms
- Irish Point - Real Oyster Cult — Real Oyster Cult
- Irish Point Oyster - Oysterater — Oysterater
- An Expert's Guide to Canadian Live Oysters - Intercity Packers — Intercity Packers
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Learn More
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