How to use the wheel by Pangea Shellfish

Start with the taste section. Make sure to note the oyster's salt content by using a brine scale of 0 to 5 (0 being no salt; 5 being full ocean salinity). Follow the wheel clockwise to note its texture and finish. An oyster may have multiple attributes in each section, so make sure you pay attention!

If you encounter an unpleasant oyster, faults are built into the wheel. The wheel does not explicitly call out faults because it is subjective, so we include it in the wheel to let the taster to determine for herself.

Tasting Tips and Suggestions

When you do get to your tasting, consider the suggestions below to ensure a complete flavor experience:

• Do not discard the oyster's liquor. We see many oyster eaters who do this, but if you lose the oyster's brine, it will be hard to identify its salt content!
  

• Chew the oyster 3 to 4 times. If you throw it back like an oyster shooter, you will completely miss evaluating its texture and much of its aromatic finish.
  

• Have a palate cleanser between oysters. Water is always a good option, but alcoholic beverages or crackers work well too.