Question: Why do oysters grow pearls?
Why do oysters grow pearls?
Answer: We all know that pearls come from oysters, so don't be surprised if you crunch down on the beginnings of a pearl while munching your meal.
Pearls are formed when a piece of grit, sand or shell get trapped inside the oyster. It protects itself from irritation by secreting a nacreous liquid around the particle which eventually over time builds into a pearl.
If you partake in oyster shooters, which are swallowed rather than chewed, your teeth will be spared. Yet it almost seems a waste to swallow pearls of the ocean without savoring the flavor.
• Why only eat oysters in months with the letter "r"? FAQ
• Oyster Varieties
• Oyster Selection and Storage
• Why do oysters grow pearls? FAQ
• Oyster History
• Oyster Measures and Equivalents
• Oysters and Health
• Oyster Recipes
Oyster Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
Pearls are formed when a piece of grit, sand or shell get trapped inside the oyster. It protects itself from irritation by secreting a nacreous liquid around the particle which eventually over time builds into a pearl.
If you partake in oyster shooters, which are swallowed rather than chewed, your teeth will be spared. Yet it almost seems a waste to swallow pearls of the ocean without savoring the flavor.
More about Oysters:
• Oyster Cooking Tips• Why only eat oysters in months with the letter "r"? FAQ
• Oyster Varieties
• Oyster Selection and Storage
• Why do oysters grow pearls? FAQ
• Oyster History
• Oyster Measures and Equivalents
• Oysters and Health
• Oyster Recipes
Oyster Photo © 2008 Peggy Trowbridge Filippone, licensed to About.com, Inc.
