Menai Oysters

This is North Cornwall's only oyster farm and it produces a year round supply of beautiful Rock oysters. The shells are a lovely clean deep cup, frequently with a distinctive zebra stripe patterning.

Tim Marshall and his son Luke farm the oysters and mussels whilst the rest of the family concentrate on the dairy herd. They are 5th generation on the land and sea in this stunning area of Cornwall.

The Camel Estuary is a clean sandy opening to the river which passes through an award winning vineyard as well. As you may recognise the name from Camel Valley Vineyard. Terroir and Merroir excel in this Cornish Valley.

This is the location of Porthilly Oyster Farm.

Menai Oysters

Name: Menai Oyster

Species: Crassostrea gigas

Location: Menai Oyster & Mussel Farm, Tal-y-Bont Bach, Dwyran, Wales

Merroir:
From this Special Conservation area in the Menai Strait Menai Rocks have a good ratio between salinity and freshwater from the river.

Flavours, textures and characteristics noted include:
Seaweed, iodine, umami, earthy, grass, mushroom, copper

An oyster with a vibrant Nose, full silky Body, resistant Bite and a gentle Finish

Salinity: 7/10

Meat to Shell Ratio: 8/10
Flush to the lower shell with more body mass to gill mass

Cup depth: Medium to deep cup

Website: www.menaioysters.co.uk

Menai oysters started life in 1994 when Shaun Krijnen, a marine biologist (MSc BSc) took over the site. At this point the farm in the Menai Strait, Angelsey, Wales had not been worked for 2 decades; now they provide oysters to top London restaurants as well as private and catering clients around the country.

Menai Oysters are cultivated in an Special Area of Conservation. Oyster are one of the few methods of farming that can work in such a symbiotic relationship with their environment.

The unusual tidal conditions in this area provide a moveable feast from a wide area for the oysters of the strait creating a distinctive merroir.

This is the location of Menai Oyster & Mussel Farm.