Malpeque
Crassostrea virginica
Canadian icon. Bright salinity, plump meat, crisp and clean.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Sharp, lingering brine
Expert Notes
From the cold, pristine waters of Prince Edward Island, Malpeques are among the briniest oysters in North America. The intense salinity is balanced by firm, plump meat and a clean finish. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- Canada
- Grown in
- Malpeque Bay, PEI
- Size
- Medium (2.5-3.5 inches)
- Shell Color
- Brown-gray
- Meat Color
- Cream
What Experts Say
Across 6 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: cucumber, lettuce-like, pickle-like, nutty, mushroom
"The flavor profile of Malpeque oysters can be described as a harmonious balance of saltiness and sweetness, with a mild mineral undertone that reflects the pristine waters of Malpeque Bay. The oysters exhibit a crisp, clean finish, leaving a lingering umami richness that is both satisfying and memorable. The meat is succulent and tender, offering a refreshing oceanic essence with a hint of cucumber."
brinysweetmineralcrispclean
"They offer a crisp lettuce-like flavor with a noticeable brininess, which adds a salty taste from the ocean. Despite their brininess, Malpeque oysters have a clean and sweet finish that balances the saltiness."
crisplettucebrinysaltyclean
"They are good transitional oysters, bigger and bolder than Beausoleils or Kusshis, but still light-bodied and clean on the finish. Easy to eat, with the perfect balance of sweetness, brine, and pickle-like liveliness, they make great accompaniments to a pint of lager."
sweetbrinycleanpickle-likelight-bodied
"Moderate brine with a meaty bite and a quick, clean finish."
brinymeatyclean
"Malpeque oysters have a little more robust flavor profile than the typically light-bodied flavor of other Maritime Province oysters, but not so powerful a flavor as to scare new oyster eaters away. They are easy to eat with tender meats and a nice balance between ocean brininess and sweetness."
robustbrinysweettender
"An interesting name for an equally interesting oyster! It had a rich, mouth-filling nutty flavor. The initially bright and salty meat finished with an earthy, mushroom-ish taste."
nuttybrightsaltyearthymushroom
About the Farm
Multiple producers including Malpeque Bay Oyster Farms, Prince Edward Aqua Farms, Atlantic Aqua Farms, Five Star Shellfish
Malpeques are wild-harvested in the traditional manner by hand-tonging from small dories in Malpeque Bay, a method that has been used for generations. Some are also farmed using bottom culture and rack and bag methods.
- Cultivation Method
- wild harvest, bottom culture, rack and bag
History & Background
Malpeque oysters have a long history, with Aboriginal peoples on Prince Edward Island using them as a food source many years ago. They gained international recognition at the 1900 Paris Exhibition where they were judged as the world's tastiest oyster, bringing the region into the limelight. In the past twenty years, Malpeques have taken the world by storm and now rival Bluepoints as the most common restaurant oyster.
Malpeques have become great ambassadors for oysters, convincing many diners that oysters were more exciting than they'd realized. They are affordable and widely available, making them a popular transitional oyster for new oyster eaters.
Did You Know?
- Judged as the world's tastiest oyster at the 1900 Paris Exhibition
- Still harvested using traditional hand-tonging from small dories
- Now rival Bluepoints as most common restaurant oyster
- PEI government issued leases for oyster fishing back as far as the mid-1800s
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 6 sources.
- What are Malpeque Oysters? — Malpeque Bay Oyster Farms
- Malpeque Oysters - The Oyster Encyclopedia — Oyster Encyclopedia
- Malpeque - The Oyster Guide — The Oyster Guide
- Malpeque Oyster - Oysterology Online — Pangea Shellfish Company
- Malpeque Oyster - Chefs Resources — Chefs Resources
- Aw, Shucks! The Merroir of PEI Malpeque Oysters — My Island Bistro Kitchen
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
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