New England 3 Dozen Sampler

You'll receive a dozen of each of the following varieties: Island Creeks, Mookie Blues and Moon Shoals! 

(12) Island Creeks

Farmer:  Skip Bennett (Founder of Island Creek Oysters) and a small group of Duxbury growers

Location: Duxbury, MA

How they're grown: Island Creeks are nurtured in our hatchery for three months, grown in floating upwellers for three months, and put in a rack and bag system for three months. For the last twelve months of the grow-out process, they are bottom planted "free range" on the mud flats of Duxbury Bay.  

Size: 3”

Why they're Unique: Duxbury Bay has drastic 12 foot tides, which brings lots of new water loaded with food (algae) into the Bay, giving the oysters their unique, complex flavor.  

How they taste: The quintessential East Coast oyster experience.  With a highly segmented flavor profile, strong salinity up front gives way to vegetal, buttery richness and a long sweet finish. It doesn't get any better than this. These complex flavors are attributed to a life spent on the ocean floor, dug into the mineral rich mud of Duxbury Bay. 

(12) Mookie Blues

Farmer:  Bill Mook

Location: Damariscotta River, Maine

Size: Smaller oyster, round, deep cup 

Farming Technique: Mookie Blues are grown in floating "Oystergro" cages. The cages can be sunk in the winter to avoid ice.

Unique Factor: Bill Mook runs a hatchery, one of the few in New England. They are in control of the entire grow-out process --- as they say, “from petri dish to dinner plate”! Mook Seafarms has been in business for about 32 years and is a strong leader in the industry.

Salinity:  We'd give these an 8 out of 10 (a bit saltier than the Island Creeks) 

Flavor Notes: A strong salty start the eases into a noticeably bready, sweet cucumber finish.

(12) Moon Shoals

Farmer:  Jon Martin

Location: Barnstable, MA

Size: Regulars (3")

Farming Technique: Oysters are grown in rack and bag method and then placed in custom-made trays to keep them off the sandy bay floor.

Unique Factor: Jon, a full-time firefighter, shakes his oysters every single day by hand to develop their deep cups.

Salinity:  We'd give these a 4.5 out of 10

Flavor Notes: Very low salt with a savory smoothness. Sweet like a Ritz cracker.

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