Damariscotta

Damariscotta River estuary · Atlantic Coast, USA

Crassostrea virginica

High, cold brine. Full, clear liquor. Dense, firm flesh. Sweetness follows the salt. Long mineral-seaweed finish.

Raw shellfish is a major allergen and carries inherent health risks. Editorial reference only.

Salinity4/5
Sweetness4/5
Minerality4/5
Umami2/5
Texturefirm
Finishsweet

Pair with

Blanc de Blancs ChampagneChablis Grand CruDry Irish or American Stout
Always start here

The reference version.

Nothing on it: brine 4, sweetness 4, minerality 4, umami 2 of 5, with a sweet finish.

What you'll tasteas it arrives
Brine
4
Sweet
4
Mineral
4
Umami
2
Acid
—

Everything below is measured against this plate.

Details

Cultivationbottom-culturedAppearancemedium · deep-cupped

Full profile on oysterminds.com ↗

If you like this, try

AkkeshiAkkeshiThe cold hits first, then the mineral — not brine so much as the sensation of pure cold seawater that has been concentrated and clarified.Barnegat SaltsBarnegat BayThe salt hits with real Atlantic authority. Genuine sweetness. Plump flesh. Faint cedary mineral in the background.
Taste them tonight
Find an oyster bar ↗book a table

Shucking these yourself? The Oyster Kit

Links open the merchant’s site. Some links may earn Oysterminds a commission at no cost to you. As an Amazon Associate, Oysterminds earns from qualifying purchases. Availability varies by season and region.