Black Magic
Crassostrea virginica
A small, dark-shelled Prince Edward Island oyster from Thunder Cove, grown for three years. Smooth salinity, tender meat and a pronounced vegetal finish, with some sweetness and a faint nuttiness.
At a Glance
Black Magic is an Eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) from the Canada East Coast. It is moderately briny (3/5 brininess) and moderately sweet (3/5 sweetness), with briny, vegetal, smooth flavors and a finish that is vegetal and smooth. It is considered a beginner-friendly oyster.
Flavor Profile
Finish
Vegetal and smooth
Expert Notes
Black Magic is a cocktail-size Prince Edward Island oyster from Thunder Cove, on the island's north shore at the west end of Malpeque Bay. Pangea Shellfish, which distributes it in the United States, lists it at about 2.75 inches after three years of growth and describes a smooth salinity with a pronounced vegetal finish. The farm is fed by sea water, with a six-foot tide over a bottom of sand, shell beds and eelgrass. A Toronto fishmonger calls them little dark brown beauties, with tender meats and a flavor that is salty, sweet and slightly nutty. Sources split on how salty it is, from smooth and mild to a fuller brine, so the score sits in the middle. Pangea suggests mezcal alongside. No source names the grower. Origin & Characteristics
- Species
- Crassostrea virginica
- Native to
- North America
- Grown in
- Thunder Cove, Prince Edward Island
- Size
- Small (2.75 inches)
- Shell Color
- Dark brown
- Meat Color
- Ivory to light gray
Where to Try It
San Francisco
- Bar Crudo NoPa
On these menus when we checked on October 1, 2026. Raw-bar lists change daily.
What Tasters Say
Across 4 sources, tasters describe this oyster as:
Unique notes: pronounced vegetal finish, slightly nutty
"Smooth salinity with a pronounced vegetal finish"
brinysmoothvegetal
"They feature tender meats with a flavour that’s salty, sweet, and slightly nutty—a refined oyster experience from the North Shore."
tenderbrinysweetnutty
"An eastern oyster with a clean brine and plump meats. Has a mild smooth finish."
cleanbrinyplumpsmooth
"With a fuller brine intensity, they provide a bold and satisfying taste."
brinybold
History & Background
Pangea Shellfish gives the origin as Thunder Cove, Prince Edward Island, and quotes the grower only in general terms, as taking pride in oysters from the rivers and bays of the island. None of the sources we opened names the farm. Pangea's site details describe a farm fed entirely by sea water, where the tide moves six feet in and out two to four times a day over sand, shell beds and eelgrass. Diana's Seafood places it at the west end of Malpeque Bay, on the island's North Shore.
Bar Crudo in San Francisco lists Black Magic from PEI. Pangea's suggested pairing is mezcal, an unusual match for an East Coast oyster.
Did You Know?
- Farmed for three years to reach about 2.75 inches
- Diana's Seafood calls them little dark brown beauties
- Sold as a cocktail-size oyster
- Pangea Shellfish suggests pairing them with mezcal
Sources & References
This information was compiled from 4 sources.
- Black Magic Oyster — Pangea Shellfish Oysterology
- Black Magic Oysters — Diana's Seafood
- Fresh Black Magic Oysters — Seafoods of the World
- Oyster - Black Magic (PEI) — Anchor Fresh Seafood
Similar Oysters
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Daisy Bay
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Learn More
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