Norumbega
Crassostrea virginica
Robust, meaty oysters from Maine's fabled Damariscotta River. Hand-harvested by scuba divers after 2-3 years bottom-planted. Sweet, buttery opening transitions to refreshing brininess with firm texture and beautiful deep cups.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Briny, clean, refreshing with mineral notes
Expert Notes
Norumbega oysters from Maine's legendary Damariscotta River showcase the region's renowned briny character with an intriguing sweet, buttery opening that transitions to a refreshing salty finish. These robust, meaty oysters benefit from a long grow-out period in cold Maine waters—started in floating bags for a year, then bottom-planted for 2-3 years. Hand-harvested by scuba divers, they develop beautifully strong shells and firm, substantial meat. The high burst of salt upfront is balanced by sugar and zinc throughout, making them approachable yet complex enough for connoisseurs. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Damariscotta River, Midcoast Maine
- Size
- Medium to Large (3-3.5 inches)
- Shell Color
- White with heavy, gnarly texture
- Meat Color
- Cream to light gray
What Experts Say
Across 7 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: reminiscent of a good cigar, kelpy, zinc, tangy
"Big, sweet, and incredibly tender. The liqueur is pleasantly salty, but the smoky sweetness of the oyster quickly washes out the flavor of the salty brine and fills your mouth with a taste and feel reminiscent of a good cigar."
bigsweettendersaltysmoky
"Definitely one of the most interesting oysters on the river. Complex and different, I kept coming back for more. Briny, smoky, umami, mineral…I found something new with each shuck. Really good and worth the trip. Now one of my favorites."
brinysmokyumamimineralcomplex
"Norumbega Oysters feature an initially sweet buttery taste, which soon turns to a briny finish."
sweetbutterybriny
"Clean overall, and VERY meaty. High burst of salt upfront with sugar and zinc throughout. Not overly complex, making them approachable, crisp and refreshing!"
cleanmeatysaltysugarzinc
"The salinity of Norumbegas is surprisingly light for a Damariscotta River oyster, the flavor intriguingly tangy. A good choice for those who prefer milder oysters."
light salinitytangymild
"What fun. I enjoyed a half-dozen from Harbor Fish Market in Portland, ME. What's not to like? As can happen, one of the batch was a little different, nicely, with a kelpy, umami heartiness I enjoyed."
kelpyumamihearty
About the Farm
Norumbega Oyster, Inc.
Est. 2006Founded by Eric and Kellie Peters. Growing up in the Damariscotta River area surrounded by rich aquaculture history, Eric knew as early as high school that a career in aquaculture was right for him. He moved to Midcoast Maine in 1999 to manage an oyster farm, began growing his own oysters in 2004, and founded Norumbega Oyster in 2006.
- Cultivation Method
- bottom culture
History & Background
A newcomer to the Maine oyster scene when first reviewed in 2010, though grower Eric Peters had many years of aquaculture experience. The farm has managed to grow in size every year since its founding in 2006.
From Maine's fabled Damariscotta River, known for producing refreshingly briny oysters. The oysters are highly coveted and considered among the larger, firmer, and brinier oysters available.
Did You Know?
- Hand-harvested by scuba divers even in winter at depths ranging from 5 to 28 feet
- Named after Norumbega, a mythical city of gold and silver that early European settlers searched for in the region
- The farm operates four different lease sites totaling 11 acres at various depths
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 7 sources.
- Norumbega Oyster - Oysterater — Oysterater
- Norumbega Oyster, Inc. - Damariscotta River Oysters — Oysters of the Damariscotta
- Norumbega Oysters from Damariscotta, ME — Island Creek Oysters
- Maine Oyster Roundup - The Oyster Guide — The Oyster Guide
- Norumbega Oysters - The Oyster Encyclopedia — Oyster Encyclopedia
- Norumbega Oyster Inc — Norumbega Oyster Inc
- About Us - Norumbega Oyster Inc — Norumbega Oyster Inc
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Learn More
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