“From the Charente to the Gironde is an open oyster garden in the sea. At the heart is the Marennes-Oléron, famous for their greenish hue, caused by a single celled algae which forms on the bottom of the oyster parks in spring and colours the waters.
When the port of La Rochelle was besieged about 1627 (D’Artganan and the Three Musketeers fought there), some oysters were stashed away in the salt marshes for safekeeping. When they were retrieved, everyone was surprised at how they had turned green, eventually succumbing to the temptation to eat them. They found the flavor more delicate and subtle almost like liquid hazelnuts.”