Find, choose and taste the Châtelaillon oyster: we tell you everything!

Going on holiday in Châtelaillon without tasting oysters? Unthinkable! With its iodised fragrance, creamy flavour and fascinating history, the queen of the coast has everyone in agreement. Even the little ones love them if you know how! We tell you all about where to find it, how to choose it and how to make it sublime. Just follow us!

Where can you find the best oysters in Châtelaillon?

Looking for that rare gem? There are several options open to you.

Firstly, you can go directly to the town’s oyster-farming area. There’s nothing better than a short circuit! It’s the perfect opportunity to get to know the local producers and discover the world of oysters. Don’t hesitate to ask them questions – they’ll be proud to share their passion for this beautiful product with you.

First option: the oyster shacks!

We’ve got 3 great places to enjoy oysters in Chatelaillon with your feet in the sand.

The Boucholeurs oyster huts are still the best way to sample the nuggets of Chatelaillon. Fresh, shiny and fragrant, they delight visitors and regulars every day. A glass of chilled white Charentais wine, a drizzle of lemon juice and you’ve got an exceptional dish!

Second option:
buy your oysters at the covered market

It is open from 1 May to 30 September every day from 8am to 1pm, and from October to April from Tuesday to Sunday from 8am to 1pm. Check the day’s date, grab your best basket and let yourself be guided by the tempting smells of the stalls. To find the best oysters, here are our 5 favourite stalls:

The Courprie family, from father to son
The Guignet family
Aux Friandises de l’Océan
La Poissonnerie chez Janny
La Poissonnerie Oléronnaise

Our good addresses in the covered market

GAEC Courprie

Vente d’huîtres et moules A.Guignet

Poissonnerie Chez Janny

Poissonnerie Oléronnaise

How do you choose the right oyster?

There are various boxes to tick before enjoying Châtelaillon oysters:

Freshness

Buy them preferably in a basket to keep them flat.
Check the dispatch date on the bag label
Keep them for around ten days in the fridge or in a cool place, between + 5 °C and + 10 °C

The type: flat or hollow

The flat oyster is rarer, more expensive and distinguished by its strong iodine flavour.
Hollow oysters, which are more common, can be divided into three varieties depending on their space and maturing time: fines, specials and claires.

©Ostreiculture Chatelaillon Plage Agence Les Conteurs 9|Gregory Cassiau

Size

The higher the size number, the smaller the oyster!
For flat oysters :

- 000, the largest: between 100 and 200 g.
- 00: 90 to 100 g
- 0 : 80 g
- 1: 70 g
- 2: 60 g
- 3: 50 g

For creuses :
- 1, very large: 111 g or more
- 2, large: 80 to 110 g
- 3, medium: 50 to 80 g
- 4, small: 30 to 50 g
- 5, very small: less than 30 g

How do I open an oyster?

©Ostreiculture Huitre Chatelaillon Boucholerus |Laurinda Hudgens

Choose your knife and hold it ½ cm from the tip to avoid injuring yourself when you rip.
Take the shell in your hand and cut the muscle of the oyster located at the level of your middle finger.
Once the knife is in place, make small rotating movements with your wrist to pull the shell apart
Finally, slide the knife down to the base of the oyster and lever it open completely. What a skill!

Did you hurt yourself while opening the oyster? Don’t panic! Run your hand under cold water, disinfect the wound and consult a doctor immediately.
To all you curious young sailors: never open an oyster without an adult present!