Raspberry Point oyster illustration
Beginner Friendly Prince Edward Island Researched

Raspberry Point

Crassostrea virginica

A substantial PEI oyster with impressive size and balance. Briny with a clean, sweet finish and firm, plump meat.

Brininess
Size Large
Shell deep cupped

Flavor Profile

Brininess 4/5
Sweetness 3/5
Minerality 2/5
Creaminess 3/5

Primary Flavors

Secondary Notes

Finish

Clean, sweet, refreshing

Expert Notes

Raspberry Points are the next step up for oyster enthusiasts. Grown in off-bottom cages in the pristine waters of PEI National Park, they take 6-7 years to reach their impressive size. The cold northern waters produce a salty punch balanced by a pleasant sweetness, with firm, plump meats and a remarkably clean finish that goes down easy.

Origin & Characteristics

Species
Crassostrea virginica
Native to
North America
Grown in
New London Bay, PEI, Prince Edward Island National Park
Size
Large (3-3.5 inches)
Shell Color
Gray-brown
Meat Color
Plump, light gray

Perfect Pairings

Best Seasons: Year-round

What Experts Say

Across 9 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:

Unique notes: mushroom, metallic, crunchy, springy

"Nicely salted, crisp meat that finishes clean. Good salt, crunchy, clean."

saltycrispcleancrunchy

"A great bright looking oyster with GREAT taste to match! Perfect size, briny, lightly sweetened finish. Perfect oyster meat- plump & firm!"

brinysweetplumpfirm

"A medium oyster with metallic brine. The crisp meat very efficiently fills the deep cup. Beautifully shaped, nearly ergonomic shells make this oyster easy to handle and eat. The quintessential PEI oyster that is an attractive choice for a new budding connoisseur."

metallicbrinycrisp

"PEI oysters are so clean and crisp! Raspberry points are meaty, clear and have just enough brine. A perfect specimen!"

cleancrispmeatybriny

"A delightful tasting experience characterized by a gentle brine and a sweet mushroom finish."

gentle brinesweetmushroom

"A wonderful salty taste, clean flavour, and a delightful, sweet finish."

saltycleansweet

"Springy meat with a gentle brine and sweet mushroom finish."

springygentle brinesweetmushroom

"They have a wonderful salty taste and clean flavor with a delightful sweet finish."

saltycleansweet

"Salty like a Malpeque, but always nicely rounded and substantial. Raspberry Points are famed for their clean finish. A bigger mouthful, more crunch, lots of salt, and it goes down so easy."

saltycleancrunchysubstantial

"Full cups with plump meat that has an immediate salty taste and ends with a subtle sweet finish."

plumpsaltysweet

About the Farm

Raspberry Point Oyster Company

Est. 1992

Founded in 1992 by James and Marlene Power, this family-owned and operated business has become one of North America's most sought-after oyster producers. The company is now owned by the famous PEI company Cows, known and loved across the province and Canada for their cheese and ice cream.

Cultivation Method
suspended culture
Visit Farm Website →

History & Background

Raspberry Point oysters are named after a little point of land on the Homestead Trail in Prince Edward Island National Park. The company started with a single oyster bed and a facility of under 100 square feet in the early 1990s, slowly growing over time.

Raspberry Point oysters are grown in one of the most northern stocks of oysters in North America, in the pristine waters of New London Bay within PEI National Park. They are considered the quintessential PEI oyster and an ideal choice for new oyster enthusiasts.

Did You Know?

  • Take 5-7 years to reach market size due to cold northern waters
  • Grown in off-bottom cages that roll with the tides
  • The exclusive U.S. distributor is American Mussel Harvesters
  • Continuously manicured throughout the growth process

Sources & References

This information was compiled from 9 sources.

  1. Raspberry Point - Prince Edward Island — The Oyster Guide
  2. Raspberry Point Oysters — The Oyster Encyclopedia
  3. Know Your Oysters — Raspberry Point Oyster Co.
  4. Raspberry Point — OysteRater
  5. Raspberry Point Oyster — Oysterology Online — Pangea Shellfish
  6. Raspberry Point — Fortune Fish & Gourmet
  7. Raspberry Point Oysters — Atlantic Aqua Farms
  8. Aw, Shucks! The Merroir of PEI Malpeque Oysters — My Island Bistro Kitchen
  9. Shucks, 35 years of Raspberry Point Oysters and counting — Atlantic Business Magazine