Oysters – The Pearl of South Korean Seafood

As you recall, our Global Spotlight Series is currently in the vibrant lands of Southeast Asia—specifically China and South Korea. Last week we introduced our fellow sojourners to the rich history of seafood in China and the baby clams Crown Prince harvests there.

Shidao Chishan Temple in China (Photo by Dustan Hoffman / Crown Prince)

This week, we turn to South Korea and a favorite straight-out-of-the-can product: oysters (smoked and boiled).

South Korea’s Seafood Connection

With water surrounding three sides, the land that is today known as South Korea has always given its people a strong connection to the sea. In fact, for as much seafood as South Korea exports, its people still eat more than they sell. Seafood recipes are strongly held in local cultures.

Local Cuisine (Photo by Dustan Hoffman / Crown Prince)

The export side of seafood for this relatively young nation (established in 1948) is just part of its global success story. Since earning independence from the north just 63 years ago, South Korea has gone on to become “one of Asia’s most affluent countries.” We’re glad that our relationship with South Korean fisheries is part of this recovery for its people.

On to the Oysters

The oysters that we get from South Korea are harvested in carefully managed fisheries just near the seaside. From there, they’re immediately put on ice for transport to the packing facility. At that point, they are gently boiled or lightly smoked before being canned and making their way to our storage facilities, grocery store shelves, and your pantry!

Oysters harvested in South Korea (Photo by Dustan Hoffman / Crown Prince)

Crown Prince Boiled Oysters and Smoked Oysters are good for dinner, a quick snack, or both! We also recommend trying them out in a new recipe. A few of our favorites include:

• Parmesan and Cornmeal Crusted Oysters
• Bayside Farmers Bread
• Smoked Oyster Stuffed Eggs

If you like what you’re reading on the Crown Prince Seafood blog, please come back often. You can also subscribe to our RSS feed, follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or contact us directly. We look forward to hearing from you.