Native East Coast oysters are all the same species--grown subtidally with smooth shells--and are typically sold under regional names like … A good pair of gloves can also come in handy, as oyster shells can be sharp enough to cut your hands if you’re not careful. There are 5 species that are cultivated in the United States that you will encounter. Edible oysters, at least in the United States, are typically grown on either the West Coast or the East Coast, which each bring a unique quality and flavor to the oysters. One of the main differences between the coasts are what species are cultured. Shigoku oysters, a variety of Pacific oysters, thrive in the waters of the coast of northern Washington. The east coast oysters are typically salty, briny and have strong mineral tastes. But you decide. Growing method and age also influence the oyster’s texture. In Japanese, shigoku means “ultimate,” an apt name for this well-balanced oyster. Other good descriptors and when they apply: It depend on the farm’s proximity to … Willapa and Samish Bays. Scallops East Coast oysters, overall, are brinier and meatier than their West Coast brethren, he said. There are briny and mild, petite and XXL East, West and Gulf Coast oysters. Similar to clams, you only want to harvest oysters with closed shells. Buy live oysters for wholesale. There are literally hundreds of different varieties of oysters available to consume raw, from all over the world. Typically speaking, East coast oysters are brinier than West coast oysters — especially oysters from Maine and Massachusetts — but there are exceptions. Bar Harbor offers up to three different oysters each from the East and West Coast … West Coast oysters are generally smaller in diameter, but are plumper and have a creamier, vegetable-like flavor with a low salinity. The meat is briny and firm with just a touch of light sweetness and a flavor often favorably compared to cucumber. Oysters are plentiful all along the East Coast, from Maine down to Florida, down to the Gulf Coast, as well as all along the Pacific Coast. Oysters are also categorized by East Coast and West Coast or Atlantic vs. Pacific, with primary differences in appearance, texture, and flavor. Different water and species result in different tastes. And west coast oysters, while they can also range in salinity, are much sweeter than their East coast counterpart. Over 100 seasonal East Coast and West Coast varieties throughout the year including Wellfleets, Kumamotos, Blue Points and more. American oysters differ as much as American people, so that the Atlantic Coast inhabitants spend their childhood and adolescence floating free and unprotected with the tides, conceived far from their mothers and their fathers too by milt let loose in the water near the eggs, while the Western oysters lie within special brooding chambers of the maternal shell, … East Coast versus West Coast. East Coast vs. West Coast Oysters.