Cleaning a mussel or oyster

[Sheila]

I would like to bring back a mussel or an oyster (empty of course) from my next pearl-buying trip to China. I tried a mussel last time, but I couldn't get rid of the smell. So I left the mussel and only took the (also smelling) pearls home.
Anybody here with good cleaning advise?

I also would like to have a Pinctada maxima (also empty), would it be possible to buy it somewhere?

Sheila

[jshepherd]

Hi Sheila,

Yuo should buy one of the clean ones at the market. I am sure they go through quite a process to get rid of the smell there, but they sell clean shell all over the place just as the locals do in Tahiti.

[Sheila]

Hi Jeremy, do you mean in the Zhuji market?
I never thought about looking there, I just went to one of the farms in the area.

[jshepherd]

Sure! There are several sellers in the market. They are typically polished, and a lot of them have blisters.

[CortezPearls]

Cleaning Advice from a Pearl Farmer:

1) Remove as much organic matter from the pearly shell, then soak in freshwater for a couple of hours.
2) Once more: remove organics (usually drill-worms, that will become bloated with water)
3) Place your shell next to an ant-hole (colony). They will do extra-detailed cleaning for you. Cover -if possible- to avoid direct sunlight: shell might crack.
4) Remove shell (& ants as well )
5) Place shell in shaded area for extra drying. You can use "Arm & Hammer" or "Shout!" spray to help remove odours.
6) Apply a bit of mineral oil (or baby oil) to the shell...it will make it look nicer and protect it from dehydration and cracks.

Hope this works.

[Raisondetre]

Pretty hard to do on a trip though. Can you imagine finding an anthill?

[Sheila]

Pretty hard to do on a trip though. Can you imagine finding an anthill?

Maybe if you know how to pronounce anthill in chinese

I think I will look for the already cleaned ones.

[jshepherd]

Anthill = 蚁丘

There are a lot of ants in China! Imported ones are invading HK's Disneyland now!
http://www.thechinapress.com/gangao/200502040252.htm

You may need google's translation tool

[CortezPearls]

Actually, you can find ants almost anywhere, specially in tropical areas...between street cracks, on walls, behind furniture.

But, I would definitely purchase clean ones...but the recipe holds if you need it.

Anyway...we need to retalliate! Can't have ants destroying a Disney amusement park!!!

[Caitlin]

I have some salad plates I think are made from pinctada maxima. They measure about 8-9" across.

Here is a picture of part of it. If it isn't pinctada maxima I would like to know what it is