Photo credit: nationaloysterday.com
Wednesday, August 5, is National Oyster Day. Uh… YUM!
There is no right or wrong way to eat an oyster. They can be eaten on the half shell, raw, smoked, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, stewed, canned, pickled, steamed or broiled.
But how much do you know about the mouth-watering mollusk that you love to eat?
Here are some facts every oyster lover should know:
- There are over 100 species of oysters and they are usually named after the body of water where they grow.
- Almost 2 billion pounds of oysters are consumed every year.
- Oyster farming/cultivation can be traced back to the Roman times in England and France.
- Only 1 out of 10,000 oysters will produce a pearl.
- The largest oyster-producing body of water is located in the Chesapeake Bay.
- Many oysters have both eggs and sperm in their reproductive organs so technically they fertilize their own egg.
- Recently, a team of researchers concluded that oysters are rich in rare amino acids that trigger increased levels of sex hormones. So the Greek myths may be right about oysters being an aphrodisiac!
Craving some delicious oysters yet?
Now, we love oysters as much as the next person but we love our oceans and maintaining a sustainable ocean ecosystem is of upmost importance. So we ask that you ensure the oysters you buy and eat are sourced sustainably. One great resource that many seafood vendors utilize is Seafood Watch. Started by the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Seafood Watch allows consumers to locate and purchase seafood that was caught sustainably.
Now that you know all about oysters and where the best places are to buy them, see if there is an Oyster Festival near you where you can share the knowledge!
For more info on Oyster Day and oysters in general, please visit nationaloysterday.com.