The Lure of Oysters

In honor of the 11th Annual Chapin Oyster Festival, which takes place this Saturday in downtown Chapin from 4- 11 pm, I thought I would delve into the lure so many South Carolinians and others may have for this shelled mollusk delicacy.

According to historians, South Carolina enjoyed a thriving oyster industry until the mid-1920s, when a typhoid scare resulting from contaminated New York oysters led to an ongoing decline in oyster harvesting in the state. Other factors such as new labor laws and the growth of tourist activity along the Carolina coast also contributed to the decline. SC DNR attributes pervasive water pollution and the lack of returning used shells back into the environment as additional reasons why South Carolina does not enjoy the abundance of oyster beds it had in the past.

You often hear that you can only eat oysters when they are in season, typically a month that has an R in it, like April or September. But the truth is oysters can be eaten all year-round. That wives' tale probably resulted from the lack of proper refrigeration and during hot summer months, the oysters could go bad in a short time after being harvested if they were not properly chilled.

I'm sure some of you want to know how pearls end up inside of oysters. I learned when I was on a visit to Sea World many years ago that oysters produce a pearl when a foreign material becomes trapped inside its shell. The oyster responds to the irritant by producing a susbtance called nacre, which is a combination of calcium and protein. The nacre coats the foreign material and over time it produces a pearl. During that childhood trip, my parents paid the little man to dive down into a pool with oysters to retrieve a shell for me, and he opened the shell to reveal a sizeable, creamy pearl that my mom set in a beautiful ring that I wear on occasion even today.

Another tidbit I learned is you can't tell the sex of an oyster by simply looking at its shell. There are male and female oysters, but unlike humans, they may change sex one or more times during their lifetime. How crazy is that?!

Many people attribute oysters for providing a little extra urge shall we say for interacting with the opposite sex. Nutritionists will tell you they are one of the most well-balanced foods because they contain protein, carbohydrates and lipids. They're also an excellent source of vitamins and minerals and are highly recommended for those of us watching our cholesterol levels.

So if you're now craving delectable oysters like I am, then the folks at the Tipsy Toad and Chapin Chamber hope you will come dowtown this Saturday and participate in our annual oyster festival. There will be activities for children between 4 and 8 pm, including face painting, balloon twisting and pocket magic. The band Hijacked will perform beginning at 7 pm. Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the event and may be purchased at the Chamber or Tipsy Toad. Children 12 and under are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.

You are welcome to bring your own oyster knives and ones will be available for purchase at the event. Don't bring your cooler please! Oysters, beer, wine and food will be available for purchase inside the event.  And a portion of the proceeds supports the Chapin Chamber & Visitors Center.  For more information, please call 803-345-1100.