Pearlers

Interesting facts about oysters, recipes & more.

All you didn’t know about oysters.

We hope that our pearlers might serve up some interesting facts about oysters and their nutritional benefits, help to dispel myths, and inspire culinary creativity.

Christmas oysters with chardonnay dressing

Christmas oysters with chardonnay dressing

In my very humble opinion, it is very hard to beat a plate of fresh plump oysters straight off the shell with a glass of crisp white wine. And as I’ve said elsewhere, Al Brown appears to agree with me about oysters in their natural state: “I do love them … with just a...

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Oyster traditions old and new

Oyster traditions old and new

Cheers to strolling through a summer wonderland - with a platter of oysters in hand!Sleigh bells ring, are you listening?Sunburn sting, ice blocks glisteningThe beautiful sight of barbies alight,strolling through a Summer wonderland....While the rest of the world...

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How to shuck oysters

How to shuck oysters

Fresh oysters are a whole food, secure in Mother Nature's own brilliant packaging. We deliver fresh Mahurangi oysters all over Aotearoa New Zealand and beyond. However, because our clever team do not actually come with each box of the delicious oysters we sell, we...

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Oysters on Christmas day – perfect!

Oysters on Christmas day – perfect!

This Christmas, we're spreading joy. We have a 15% discount on our oysters until December 10th or until we run out of oysters! Simply order a couple of dozen online and we’ll deliver them straight to your door anywhere in New Zealand OR you can pick them up from 3...

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Oyster festival to celebrate 25 years

Oyster festival to celebrate 25 years

A mini oyster festival to toast the past, present, and future of Sileni Join us in celebrating 25 years of Sileni deliciousness. On November 30th, we’ll be helping host a celebration of 25 years of excellence! Let’s raise our glasses and our oyster shells to salute...

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All I want for Christmas

All I want for Christmas

This Christmas, we're making it even easier for you to indulge in our premium oysters on Christmas day.   Either have them delivered straight to your doorstep or the doorstep of your loved ones anywhere in New Zealand OR pick them up from 3 easily accessed spots...

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Oysters: 12 ways for Christmas

Oysters: 12 ways for Christmas

Rather than a pukeko in a ponga tree, how about some lovely Mahurangi oysters? This Christmas, we're spreading joy.  Order a couple of dozen online and we’ll deliver them straight to your door anywhere in New Zealand OR you can pick them up from 3 easily accessed...

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Oyster Tacos

Oyster Tacos

Labour Weekend is nearly here – and that means family, friends and…feasting Celebrate Labour Weekend the way you deserve – with the finest Mahurangi Oysters! Reward your labours with something special. Our fresh, locally harvested oysters always go down a treat. So,...

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What wine to drink with oysters

What wine to drink with oysters

As oyster lovers, we believe the delicate briny flavour of oysters with the right glass of wine is one of the greatest pleasures in life. That is why putting in the work to find the right wine pairing for this delicacy is worth every effort. I know it is a tough job,...

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The big question: Are oysters aphrodisiacs?

The big question: Are oysters aphrodisiacs?

The eating of an oyster is a sensual affair, a tale of seduction. Crack open its rocklike shell point and it reveals the delicate tissue at its heart. It is soft, slippery, and slightly briny, tasting of the soul of the ocean that made it. Slurping directly from the...

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Mahurangi Oysters at Beervana 2024

Mahurangi Oysters at Beervana 2024

Mahurangi Oysters at Beervana 2024 Mahurangi Oysters will once again be part of this fantastic event on the 23rd and 24th of August, 2024. The venue, Wellington's Sky Stadium, will be buzzing with brewery displays, live music, street performers, and an array of...

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Mahurangi Oyster Fritters

Mahurangi Oyster Fritters

Call me biased but I think few things can rival the sublime flavours and delicate texture of fresh oysters. And while many oyster enthusiasts are familiar with classic ways to devour them - slurping them raw or savouring them with a squeeze of lemon - an...

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Classic oyster recipes for Father’s Day

Classic oyster recipes for Father’s Day

Show your appreciation for the father figures in your life in the most delicious way possible Sunday, September 1st is Father's Day in New Zealand. To honour your old man, why not treat him to an oyster feast? To make this Father's Day super tasty, we're offering a...

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Poached oysters

Poached oysters

The taste of the sea Poaching oysters brings out the delicate flavours of these mouthwatering molluscs. When poached, oysters swell, become meatier and develop a wonderful silky, rich flavour. Poaching preserves oysters' natural moisture and their natural briny taste....

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Defy July

Defy July

Ready for a wonderful weekend of fine food and frivolity? July can be hard. It's the middle of winter. It can be cold. It can be dreary. And if you're one of the fine souls raising money for cancer sufferers and doing Dry July, it can be even tougher. Unless, of...

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Lime and margarita themed oysters

Lime and margarita themed oysters

When life gives you limes, rearrange the letters until they smile Limes add a zesty punch to any meal or drink. There is nothing quite like a squeeze of lime juice to make guacamole sing or make a mojito quaffable. The New Zealand lime season is from March through to...

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Oysters at Matariki

Oysters at Matariki

Matariki - a time to appreciate the wonderful kaimoana we have in Aotearoa New Zealand The rise of the star cluster Matariki signals the start of the Māori New Year. The cluster is named after its mother whetu, or star, Matariki that rises in midwinter and encourages...

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We grow flipping good oysters

We grow flipping good oysters

In the quiet waters of the Mahurangi Harbour, a new kind of oyster farming is quietly growing. It is a method so innovative and effective that it promises not just better oysters, but a better world. Flip farming is transforming the age-old practice of oyster farming....

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Smoking oysters without a smoker

Smoking oysters without a smoker

People most often eat oysters by slurping them raw right out of the shell, but this is by no means the only way to eat these delicate bivalves. Oysters are delicious when deep fried, grilled in their shells, and are particularly good smoked. Oysters take on a light...

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Shellebrate good times, come on!

Shellebrate good times, come on!

It’s a shellebrationYeehah - the Mahurangi oyster season is here If you’ve been counting down the days until the start of this year’s oyster season, you can breathe easy and start shucking. The time has come to feast again on some of New Zealand’s most delicious...

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Mahurangi oysters in kombucha batter with kimchi mayo

Mahurangi oysters in kombucha batter with kimchi mayo

Batter recipe for fried oysters from THE Man: Martin Bosley Plump succulent Mahurangi Oysters and a kick-a#* batter and dressing using Matakana magic. According to Cuisine Magazine, “If you know Martin Bosley, you know that you cannot argue with him about oysters in...

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Carpetbag steak

Carpetbag steak

For over-the-top taste from low-effort cooking, nothing can beat carpetbag steak. Prime-cut steak stuffed with fresh oysters makes a truly special meal to impress family, old friends or even special new friends. The name carpetbag steak comes from the handbag that was...

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Eating more oysters could help prevent climate change

Eating more oysters could help prevent climate change

Oysters: unsung climate heroes At Mahurangi Oysters we think it is way beyond time that people shone a light on the silent champions of climate change, toiling away in our oceans, harbours and estuaries. The oyster is a funny-looking creature resembling little more...

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Oysters make the world a better place

Oysters make the world a better place

It's true, they do! Oyster farming isn't just good for our taste buds, it's good for the environment and your health. It's the trifecta of farming and feasting: a win-win all around.There’s more to oyster farming than just great food These amazing bivalves are...

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Fresh oyster hors d’oeuvres with a Japanese twist

Fresh oyster hors d’oeuvres with a Japanese twist

This recipe comes from Bite section of the Herald. Warren Elwin had spent the day out on the beautiful Mahurangi harbour aboard the Shuckleferry and enjoying Mahurangi oysters. He put together this delicious starter using Mahurangi oysters. It is quite special yet...

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The Mahurangi Regatta

The Mahurangi Regatta

Every Anniversary Weekend, nearly, for 47 years, our gorgeous harbour transforms into a floating village with a very lively atmosphere. The Mahurangi Regatta blends history, community spirit, and maritime skills against the backdrop of the gorgeous Mahurangi Harbour....

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Mahurangi oysters, sherry jelly and pancetta crumbs

Mahurangi oysters, sherry jelly and pancetta crumbs

This is a recipe by Ginny Grant, a well-known New Zealand food writer that was published in Cuisine magazine in 2020. Ginny sees cooking oysters as somewhat akin to a crime: “I can’t bear to cook oysters, so they are most often served raw, but I do on occasion like a...

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Meet the NZ oyster: a marine marvel

Meet the NZ oyster: a marine marvel

Oysters 101 The first thing to understand about the NZ oyster is that the more of them you eat, the better it is for the environment. We often associate oysters with romance and indulgence, but they are much more than just a culinary delight. Oyster farming is good...

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Mahurangi Oysters Rockefeller

Mahurangi Oysters Rockefeller

Rooted in the vibrant history of New Orleans, this classic recipe pays homage to the legacy of the Rockefeller family. Legend has it that Oysters Rockefeller was created at the turn of the 20th century at the renowned Antoine's Restaurant. Named after John D....

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Oyster toppings

Oyster toppings

Before you get to enjoy these great toppings for oysters, you’ll need to get those succulent shellfish open. We appreciate that when you’re preparing oysters for a big crew, shucking them can be time-consuming. So, we’ve got some ideas for oyster shucking using a...

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The art of opening oysters: no shucking required

The art of opening oysters: no shucking required

Oysters at home are such a treat and a wonderful delicacy to share with others. But they can be tricky little suckers to open. Shucking an oyster takes a bit of skill, a bit of time, gloves and a good oyster knife. However, if you’re not feeling confident, you have...

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Oysters Kilpatrick

Oysters Kilpatrick

Not content with claiming pavlovas, lamingtons and ANZAC biscuits as their own, google “Oysters Kilpatrick” and some websites will tell you that they too were an Australian invention. They will even go so far as to refer to them as “this traditional Australian recipe...

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Storing oysters

Storing oysters

Our oysters are hand-sorted and come to you live Pacific to plate. We harvest, hand-select, wash and sort your oysters before finally, gently placing them safely in Mother Nature's own brilliant packaging in the box that the courier will deliver overnight to your...

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They’re poaching our oysters!

They’re poaching our oysters!

Don’t panic! They aren’t wading out there and nicking them. When we say our oysters are being poached, what we’re talking about is international chefs whipping up gourmet oyster delights and using a cooking method that brings out the delicate flavours of these...

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Why oysters are perfect for winter feasting

Why oysters are perfect for winter feasting

Mahurangi Oyster Stew As the colder months settle in, we need heart-warming dishes that provide comfort and joy. Oysters, the epitome of luxury, are perfect for winter feasting. Plus, they’re a nutritional powerhouse, rich in essential vitamins and minerals that can...

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Oysters can do wonders for your health

Oysters can do wonders for your health

Oysters are a delightful bite of pure ocean flavour The French poet Léon-Paul Fargue says eating oysters was “like kissing the sea on the lips.” For James Beard, the American culinary expert, they were simply “one of the supreme delights that nature has bestowed on...

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The magic that unfolds when gin and oysters unite

The magic that unfolds when gin and oysters unite

Oysters with gin: a culinary symphony that strikes a perfect balance. If you've never tried this combination before, get ready for a treat. These ingredients have a natural affinity for each other. They are a wonderful blend of brine, earth, and citrus. This...

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Oysters on ice with Chardonnay Vinegar and Chilli Jelly

Oysters on ice with Chardonnay Vinegar and Chilli Jelly

Oysters on Ice with Chardonnay Vinegar and Chilli Jelly Raw oysters are a luxury that should always be served freezing cold and over ice. This recipe from Al Brown gives you an explosion of clean sharp flavours incorporating the salty briny oyster, the acidity of the...

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Where can you buy fresh oysters?

Where can you buy fresh oysters?

It's that time of year again; the time when oyster lovers rejoice.The Mahurangi oyster season is officially open! Indulge in some of the best-tasting oysters straight from the pristine Mahurangi harbour. When it comes to freshness, nothing beats a freshly shucked,...

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Herb and Butter Baked Oysters

Herb and Butter Baked Oysters

Oysters baked in herbs and butter Simple, crunchy, creamy and just shucking good. These zingy, baked oysters are perfect for summertime drinks or as an appetizer. Ingredients 4 cups rock salt or uncooked rice (for lining the pan) 2 dozen fresh oysters 225 grams butter...

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Oysters spark curiosity and whether you’re an oyster gobbler or not, there’s a good chance you’ve got a question or two. If we haven’t answered them here…

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