Page Contents
Difference Between Green Mussels And Black Mussels
Colour is the main difference between green and black mussels. Black mussels have black shells, while green mussels have greenish shells. Their size is also different from one another. Green mussels are two times bigger than black ones. Green mussels are chewy, while black mussels are tender and soft.
Green and black mussels have slightly different flavours and textures; you can use them interchangeably in almost any recipe. While black and green mussels have some differences in taste, if a recipe calls for green mussels and you can only get black mussels, a substitute is fine.
Some recipes call for the mussels to have a mild flavour, in which case the black ones won’t work. Although green mussels are larger and meatier, they are slightly less flavorful and aromatic than black mussels.
The taste and flavour of Green mussels
Green mussels have a less intense oceanic flavour than their black counterparts and have a characteristic umami (salty) aftertaste that is slightly mushroom-like. You may also notice a difference in size, as green mussels will almost always be significantly larger than black mussels.
You can also expect the meat to taste slightly differently, as black mussels are salty and sweet, while green mussels tend to be lighter in flavour and slightly chewier. Green and black mussels share the same basic characteristics of a delicious bivalve but differ in appearance, region, taste, and culinary uses.
Known as the green-lipped mussel, the green-lipped mussel is a species known as Perna canaliculus, while the black mussel is one of several mussel species, such as Choromytilus meridionalis and Mytilus trossulus (technically, they are black mussels, but they are often called blue mussels).
You won’t find mussels grown anywhere except New Zealand, making them considerably more expensive than black mussels but arguably affordable. The black “blue mussel” is the most common type, but green-shelled New Zealand mussels are also popular.
Although harder to find, green mussels come fresh or frozen in forms such as whole, semi-peeled, and even meat. Both of these relatively common varieties can be purchased both fresh and frozen. You can also find whole mussels pickled or canned, even in various delicious and refreshing flavours.
| Green Mussels | Black Mussels |
| They are larger than black mussels | They are smaller than black mussels |
| They have chewy texture | Black mussels have a very intense and slightly sweet flavor |
| Green mussels don’t have much prominent flavor | Black mussels have very intense and slightly sweet flavor |
Whatever you choose, mussels are equally delicious and will delight your taste buds with the fresh aroma of seafood. Of course, the taste of these mussels also depends on whether they are farm-raised or grown in their natural habitat. When it comes to telling these two kinds of mussels apart, the colour difference will most likely give them away long before they get to the tasting.
Now that we understand these differences, perhaps we can get closer to infer what a top mussel is. As can be seen from the table, there are significant differences between the two types of mussels. We’ll look at the characteristics of these different mussels, and their differences will become more apparent as we discuss them.
To learn about can you survive on beer without water, check out my other article where I cover things in detail.
There are some important differences between the two mussel types to remember. There is no difference in cooking between the two types of mussels as they both cook quickly and require minimal preparation before serving. The most common cooking methods for almost any mussels include steaming the mussels whole or in half shells or grilling the mussel meat.
What are the differences between Green and Black mussels?
Some suggestive mussel recipe ideas include steamed garlic, fennel and mussels in wine, herb-crusted mussel meat, or mussels baked in cheese. The mild flavour of mussels makes it easy for me to mix mussels with different ingredients in various mussel dishes. The mussels remain soft and chewy when steamed in a small amount of water with additives such as flavourings, flannel wine beer and oil.
Garlic and wine are also a classic and effective flavour combination that perfectly elevates the natural flavours of the mussels. You can pair blue mussels perfectly with pasta, rice, garlic cloves, lemon juice, shortbread or baguette, white wine and garlic sauce.
These include characteristics such as the size where black and blue-green mussels can be found, as well as their taste and texture.
Benefits of green mussels
Green mussels are rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and contain protein, iron, selenium and iodine, as well as significant amounts of B12, manganese and phosphorus. Freshwater mussels are also an excellent source of nutrients such as proteins, fatty acids, vitamin C and minerals and are low in fat.
To learn about can you unboil an egg, check out my other article where I cover things in detail.
Buying frozen or pre-cooked mussels will most likely be the black variety due to their long shelf life. Mussels are a great alternative to oysters or clams, and you can usually find black varieties that sell for lower prices.
China is the world’s largest exporter of black mussels in significant volumes. If you don’t buy freshly caught mussels from your country’s waters, you will most likely end up with Mytilus galloprovincialis (Mediterranean mussels).
Mytilus galloprovincialis is another mussel grown in the Mediterranean, Japan, North Korea and Russia. According to scientists, their taxonomic group Mytilus can interbreed with each other. In appearance, freshwater mussels have a longer, oval-shaped shell that is less sinuous than clam shells.
Black mussels are immediately recognizable by their wavy black shell, which varies in intensity from deep dark brown in some places to predominantly glossy black. Each mussel starts with a brown shell that shifts and turns green on one side and becomes brighter green towards the wide lip – dark brown ridges on its surface spoil the bright green colour. Green is also the best colour in mussels as it is known to be the most filtered.
Greens are commonly used in cold dishes such as salads or ceviches because they can be eaten raw without being cooked, as their texture is firmer than black.
We recommend using black mussels more often to meet your nutritional needs and buying green mussels when you feel like splashing, pampering, or wanting something lighter. This makes the mussels delicious, and you should have a lot of fun if you find these animals with greens inside.
Which tastes better, green mussels or blue mussels?
It is experienced that the flavour of the fresh green-lipped mussels is amazingly distinct from blue mussels. Green-lipped mussels are softer, larger, and milder. On the other hand, blue mussels are smaller in size, chewier, and have a more intense briny taste.
How do you differentiate between green mussels and black mussels?
You can easily differentiate between green and black mussels, as black mussels are smaller in size, have a black shell and give an intense seafood flavour. On the other hand, green mussels have a subtle flavour and chewy texture. Both green and black mussels have a shelf life of 7-10 days in the fridge.
Green mussels vs. black mussels: Which is healthier?
Green mussels are a healthy option due to their higher nutritional value, as they contain more antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron, and selenium. On the other hand, black mussels are more abundant in supply than green mussels, making them very affordable all year round.