Wawenauk
Crassostrea virginica
Premium bottom-planted Damariscotta River oyster from Maine. Large, thick-shelled, and robust with surprisingly high brininess and distinctive bright lemon-zest flavor. Extremely plump and meaty.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Bright citrus with lingering saltiness
Expert Notes
Wawenauk oysters are premium Damariscotta River oysters raised by Muscongus Bay Aquaculture and bottom-planted in sandy river bottom for their final years. Despite growing in brackish water, they develop surprisingly high salinity with distinctive bright lemon-zest notes. Big, heavy, thick-shelled, and full-flavored, these burly oysters compete with legendary Glidden Points and Pemaquids, offering extremely plump meats with a dense, meaty texture and robust character that's not for timid palates. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- USA
- Grown in
- Hog Island, Damariscotta River, Maine
- Size
- Large (3.5-4 inches)
- Shell Color
- Thick, hard, gnarly white-gray
- Meat Color
- Plump cream
What Experts Say
Across 5 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: bright lemon-zest, mild metallic finish
"Another Damariscotta doppelganger for Glidden Points or Pemaquids, Wawenauks are big, heavy, thick-shelled, and full-flavored, with bright lemon-zest notes. These were a touch soft and mushy."
full-flavoredlemon-zestsoftmushy
"The meat has a medium to high salinity and a mild metallic finish."
saltybrinymetallic
"Wawenauk Oysters are an East Coast oyster from Damariscotta River which is one of the oyster appellations in Maine. The salinity is medium to high with a sweet finish and firm meats."
brinysaltysweetfirm
"Wawenauk oysters are grown in the Damariscotta River Estuary. This is where the river meets the Atlantic Ocean. The water is brackish, meaning a mix of salt and fresh water from the river."
brinybrackish
About the Farm
Muscongus Bay Aquaculture
Leading provider of oyster seed and market-size oysters, operating a shellfish hatchery and two farms in Bremen, Maine. Raises Wawenauk oysters from spat at their aquaculture farm.
- Cultivation Method
- bottom culture
History & Background
Wawenauk oysters are cultured in the Damariscotta River Estuary where the river meets the Gulf of Maine. They are raised from spat at the Muscongus Bay Aquaculture farm in the icy waters of coastal Maine.
Part of the Damariscotta River oyster appellation, one of Maine's most recognized oyster-growing regions. The oysters are purged to ensure exceptional cleanliness.
Did You Know?
- One of the largest and cleanest oysters in the Atlantic
- Grown in icy waters where the Damariscotta River meets the Gulf of Maine
- The deep cup boasts a large, beautiful, white shell that is easy to shuck
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 5 sources.
- Maine Oyster Roundup — The Oyster Guide
- Oysters - East Coast - Crassostrea virginica | Wawenauk — Fortune Fish & Gourmet
- Wawenauk Oysters — Chefs Resources
- Guide to Maine Oysters — Portland Magazine
- Muscongus Bay Aquaculture — MapQuest
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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
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Understanding merroir - the marine equivalent of terroir - and how water chemistry creates flavor
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