The Story of Our Oysters – Part Two

Have you ever wondered how our oysters go from the admittedly unattractive shells they grow in to the simple, delicious form in which you enjoy them? The Story of Our Oysters continues as we guide you into the packing facilities, where they are packed fresh and shipped in batches (we check samples from each and every production code to ensure quality and deliciousness).

A Simple Canning for Good, Clean Flavor

Once harvested from the clear blue coastal waters of China and South Korea, our oysters are transported on ice to their respective canning facilities, usually by ferry.

First the oysters are washed, then lightly steamed so that the shells can be removed by hand without damaging the oyster meat. After the shells are removed, the oysters are washed again before being either smoked or boiled. (The process corresponds, of course, with either our Smoked Oysters or Boiled Oysters.)

                  Crown Prince Oysters are sorted by size and packed carefully by hand
(Photo by Dustan Hoffman / Crown Prince)

Smoked Oysters are naturally smoked for 15-20 minutes and then carefully packed into sterilized cans, where they are marinated in either cottonseed oil or olive oil and a touch of salt before the cans are sealed, cleaned, and sterilized once again.

Boiled Oysters are gently boiled to provide a clear, clean appearance and a wonderful, mild flavor. Packed in pure water with just a bit of salt to maintain shelf stability and support the flavor, they are carefully placed into sterilized cans which are cleaned and sterilized again.

En Route to Your Table

Samples from each and every production code of oysters are sent to our headquarters in City of Industry, California for testing and pre-approval before the lot is shipped to us. This ensures that our high quality standards are maintained. Crown Prince Smoked Oysters and Boiled Oysters are available in grocery and health food stores nationwide.

Try Crown Prince Oysters in Bayside Farmer’s Bread or Stuffed Chicken Parmesan

The final chapter in the story of our oysters is up to you! From the shelf of your local market, it’s a short trip to your kitchen cabinet, where they undoubtedly end up in more soups, stews, hors d’oeuvres and snacks than we can account for here. Bon appétit!

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