Oysters…FAQs
These are a few of the questions we are often asked. Something we haven’t covered? Drop us a line with your questions.
Where do your oysters come from?
Blackwater Oysters are grown in sustainable privately owned oyster layings in the creeks of West Mersea and Tollesbury that have been successfully supporting oyster farming for over 500 years.
How do I know that your oysters are safe to eat?
Our oysters are treated in a modern, CEFAS-approved depuration plant using mix of fresh and salt water, which is infused with ultraviolet light for 42 hours to kill any bacteria. After treatment, a selection from each batch is sent away for testing before sale. The facility is regularly tested for Norovirus and other bacteria and conforms CEFAS standards. More information can be found by visiting the CEFAS web site here.
How much will my oysters cost?
Our premium oysters are competitively priced against market competition and current prices can be found on our shop page.
How much do you charge for delivery?
• We charge a flat rate of £7.50 for delivery of our oysters to mainland UK only. Charges for delivery (where available) to Northern Island and the Scottish Isles may be supplied on request.
How do I store my oysters?
Oysters will be shipped in iced, insulated containers and should be kept in the refrigerator on arrival. It is recommended that oysters are consumed within 60 hours of arrival.
How do I shuck an oyster?
Shucking an oyster is the process of opening the shell to reveal the delicate meat inside. Check out this video, BBC Good Food show you how to open an oyster safely at its hinge by twisting and levering up the shell with a knife.
How is it best to eat an oyster?
Oysters can be eaten in a number of ways and, to a certain extent, depends on personal choice. If you want to experience the true taste of a delicious Blackwater oyster, we recommend you add no condiments, place the oyster on the tongue to savour the flavour, give it a good chew and swallow as normal. To provide additional flavour, lemon juice, tabasco and red wine vinegar are common accompaniments. Or, if you prefer your oysters cooked, they can be grilled, barbequed, steamed or roasted and you will find many tried and trusted recipes in any good seafood/shellfish cook books.
What drink is recommended to compliment oysters?
It is recommended to drink either beer, wine or soft-drinks with oysters since strong spirits does not aid in the digestion of oysters. Stout and champagne are traditional drinks to accompany oysters.
Is it safe to collect my own oysters when visiting the beach?
No it is not safe to collect shellfish especially bivalves (mussels, oysters, clams, razor etc) from the seashore to take home and eat. The bivalves bought in the shops have come from areas that are under strict control by the Food Standards Agency. This ensures that no toxic algal blooms have taken place and that, depending on area, the bivalves are depurated prior to sale. Depuration enables the shellfish purge to themselves in a highly controlled environment.
Can oysters be cooked?
Of course! Oysters are wonderful on the grill with some garlic butter, or even a spicy sauce drizzled over them. Oysters do well with quick, hot heat, rather than low and slow. But we suggest you try them both raw and cooked!
Did you know that oysters are extremely beneficial to our waters?
These tiny bivalves actually filter 30 to 50 gallons of water per day, per oyster! Imagine what an entire bed of these can do!
Oysters - good for my garden?
Alongside being beneficial to the ocean, oysters are great for your garden as well! Instead of chucking the oyster shells in your garbage, make them into fertiliser! Oyster shells contain a lot of calcium. This can improve the PH balance of your garden’s soil, provide essential nutrients to your plants and strengthen their cell walls. All of these benefits produce healthy, brighter flowers!
Do you ever find any pearls?
We do find pearls sometimes. Oysters make a pearl when something inside their shell is bugging them. If they live on a rough beach where they are always tossed around by the waves, they might get bits of rock tossing around with them. Some of these small rock fragments get inside the oyster’s shell when it is open, and irritates their soft flesh. The oyster coats the rock with the same material as it makes its shell with, called nacre, or mother of pearl, and this is a pearl. If you find one, consider yourself lucky!
Are there male and female oysters?
Yes, the two sexes are separate in this species of oyster. This means that at any one time, an oyster is either male or female; but in some cases, both male and female sex organs are present. Interestingly, they can change sex during their lifetime from one to the other and possibly back again. The change is thought to be related to environmental conditions; femaleness being favoured in locations and years with good food supply.
Should I put my oysters on ice?
Only when serving. They should never be stored or submerged in ice water—they will try to drink it and die.