Whether it’s on the half shell at your favorite local spot or shucking your own during an oyster roast, one thing’s for sure — oysters are a staple in the Lowcountry. Their unique flavor profiles, shell shapes and abundance in our saltmarshes have won them a spot in our top cultural cuisines. Get to know these bivalves on a deeper level with these five facts!
An oyster's cardiovascular system matches its lifestyle!No Veins, No Problem
We’re not breaking any hearts, but we are breaking down how ours differ from an oyster’s! While humans have veins and arteries, oysters use an open circulatory system. Their three-chambered heart (compared to our four-chambered one) pumps clear blood — hemolymph — through the body cavity, bathing an oyster’s organs in oxygen before returning back to the heart.
This keeps things simple and is perfectly suited for a species leading a laid-back, filter-feeding lifestyle!
Going With the Flow
Oysters take this simple phrase quite seriously, especially when it comes to taste! While you most likely have a certain preference for oyster flavors — like buttery, briny, savory or sweet — what you may not know is that these preferences are the result of what’s called “merroir.” Determined by environmental factors such as water quality, algae, minerals and more, an oyster’s taste is dependent on where it grows!
An oyster's environment determines its taste!
"Nacre" gives pearls their iridescent sheen.Pearl Jam, Literally
While we’ll never pass up the chance to connect oysters with alternative rock music, what literally creates a pearl in an oyster is a bit of a jam! When a foreign object like a grain of sand sneaks in, the oyster coats it in “nacre” — a shiny substance made of proteins and other organic matter — to protect itself. That’s what gives a pearl its iridescent glow!
Sticking the Landing
Oysters aren’t exactly gymnasts, but spat (the larval stage of an oyster’s life span) do need to stick the landing! Once they attach to a hard surface — like a dock or even another oyster — they start growing their shell by building up layers of nacre. That’s the same shiny stuff that forms the occasional pearl! As an oyster grows, the shell forms in response to the environmental conditions, such as:
• Longer or oddly-shaped shells form when there are tight spaces between oyster beds, and the only way is up, around or in-between
• Deeply-cupped oysters form in areas where the water is moving quickly, causing the oyster shell to chip often
• More proportionate shells are formed during oyster farming, where oysters are raised in a controlled environment and regularly tumbled to chip edges (creating a deeper cup)
Shell shapes are dependent on an oyster's surrounding habitat.
An oyster's value isn't solely related to its taste!A Thriving Third Act
Oysters aren’t just for eating; they’ve got surprisingly valuable second and third acts, too! Recycled oyster shells can help rebuild reefs, but they’re also great for garden use. Crushed oyster shells can boost your soil’s pH, offer nutrients and improve drainage.
Still looking for more shell-shocking oyster facts? Learn the differences between farmed and wild oysters!
Published August 5, 2025