Huitres de paletuviers

Mangrove oysters, known as huitres de paletuviers in French, are small marine bivalve mollusks that are found in New Caledonia’s mangrove swamps, where they are either living on mangroves’ roots or attached to rocks.

Mostly belonging to the Crassostrea and Saccostrea genera, these edible shellfish are typically wild-harvested by the local community and are considered a local delicacy. Mangrove oysters are recognized for their sweet and salty flavor and their high quality. They are commonly complemented only by a simple vinaigrette to allow their natural flavor to come through.

These oysters are widely used in local cuisine and are available at numerous restaurants, markets, and supermarkets throughout the archipelago.