Sweet Petite
Crassostrea virginica
Rack and bag cultivated oysters from Katama Bay, Martha's Vineyard. Deep-cupped with firm white meats, delivering a briny hit that transitions to smooth creaminess and a sweet finish.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Smooth, creamy with a sweet lingering finish
Expert Notes
Sweet Petite oysters from Katama Bay deliver a delightful balance of brine and sweetness. Cultivated using rack and bag methods in the pristine waters of Martha's Vineyard's eastern shore, these oysters develop deep cups with firm white meats. The initial briny hit quickly gives way to a smooth creaminess and a distinctly sweet finish that makes them approachable for newcomers while remaining satisfying for experienced oyster lovers. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Katama Bay, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts
- Size
- Small to Medium (3-3.5 inches)
- Shell Color
- White to cream
- Meat Color
- Firm white
What Experts Say
Across 6 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: well-rounded, fresh, fattened meats
"Sweet and salty. But the name is on topic: these are small."
sweetsaltysmall
"Mild, well rounded, not too meaty. Best wine fruity/aromatic beet or wine."
mildwell-rounded
"These ones shown in pictures are the Sweet Petite, briny hit with a fresh sweetness taste in your mouth after."
brinysweetfresh
"Sweet Petite oysters are short and stocky measuring out at 2½ inches and possess thick, russet colored rounded shells. A neat hinge makes for an easy open into a deep cupped shell loaded with fattened meats."
deep-cuppedfattened meats
"SWEET PETITE, MA, 2.5"-3" Mild Meat, With A Sweet & Salty Flavor"
mildsweetsalty
"These oysters are grown in the New Meadows River in Bath, Maine. They are sweet, petite, and unforgettable! Give them a try when you see them on the menu."
sweetpetite
About the Farm
Jack Blake (Katama Bay Oysters)
The smaller, younger version of Jack Blake's Sweet Necks. Farmed in off-bottom cages and tumbled using a wind-powered tumbler Blake designed.
- Cultivation Method
- rack and bag
History & Background
Sweet Petite oysters are cultivated in Katama Bay on the eastern side of Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts. They are the smaller, younger version of the Sweet Neck oyster variety, also grown by Jack Blake.
These oysters are produced in small quantities and are considered a 'boutique' oyster due to the limited availability and the fact that most of the oysters produced there during the season are sold locally.
Did You Know?
- Farmed using a wind-powered tumbler designed by grower Jack Blake
- Considered a boutique oyster with limited production
- Grown off-bottom in cages and tumbled for better shell formation
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 6 sources.
- Sweet Petite Oyster — OysteRater
- Katama Bay Oysters - Sweet Petite Oysters — Chefs Resources
- Premium oyster preferences and cost concerns — Facebook - Eat N Go Group
- Oyster List - Blue Point Seafood — Blue Point Seafood
- OS Oyster Menu — The Oyster Society
- OYSTERS — Elm Square Oyster Co
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Learn More
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