Written by Missy Johnston

New Zealand Freshly Harvested Green Lipped Mussels www.njcharters.com
New Zealand – Freshly Harvested Green Lipped Mussels

In the Marlborough Sounds, located on the northern end of South Island, New Zealand cruise on a private yacht charter and gorge on the New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels that not only have an outstanding taste, but are rumored to offer great health benefits. And what could be better than cruising in the lovely green Marlborough Sounds eating

Green Lipped Mussels while sipping New Zealand Marlborough Sounds Sauvignon Blancs purchased right from one of the various local wineries, some of which are world renowned and prize winners. Green Lipped Mussels, also known as the Greenshell Mussel, are so called as the normal dark coloring of the mussel shell, in this species has a very green edge, or lip along the edge of both shells. The Marlborough Sounds are home to a burgeoning Green Lipped Mussel industry with mussel farms dotted throughout the cruising waters of this great yacht charter location.  Stop right at the farm float, and purchase these Marlborough Sounds farm grown Greek Lipped Mussels plucked right from the water for a lovely on board treat.

New Zealand, Green Lipped Mussels, Yacht charter, luxury yachts
New Zealand – Green Lipped Mussels with Linguine
It is said that the New Zealand Green Lipped Mussel contains five types of Omega 3’s needed by the human body, and that these mussels contain naturally occurring proteins and minerals that are great for joint health and general well being. An industry is growing up around the Green Lipped Mussel creating an extract for general distribution. However, while on location, enjoy as many Green Lipped Mussel as you would like, fresh from the waters of Marlborough Sounds on your yacht charter cruise.

New Zealand, Marlborough Sound, private yacht
New Zealand – Marlborough Sound

New Zealand today has over 550 Green Lipped Mussel farms, mostly in the Marlborough Sounds. There are so many little bays and coves in the Marlborough Sounds area, many rarely visited, that these isolated maritime waters are extremely clean and are an ideal location for mussel farming.

New Zealand, Marlborough Sound, VIP Yacht Charter
New-Zealand – Marlborough Sound – A small marina

Rigorously monitored and in many circumstances an industry self adhering to environmental policies to be eco friendly, the mussel farming industries of New Zealand make up the largest segment of New Zealand’s seafood industry. Green Lipped Mussels are exported to over 50 countries worldwide. But why not go to taste the mother lode yourself and enjoy these mussels straight out of the waters where they are farmed and cruising the Marlborough Sounds on a yacht charter in New Zealand.

Recipe for New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels*:

Ingredients
• 1 Dozen (or more) New Zealand Green Lipped Mussels
• White wine
• 2 cups Fresh Basil
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup Olive oil
• 3 Tbsp toasted Pine nuts
• 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
• Juice of 2 lemons

Directions
1. To make the pesto, just add basil, pine nuts, cheese, olive oil, garlic and lemon juice, and blend them up, then put aside
2. Steam the mussels very lightly with the wine
3. Then shuck them open and loosen the meat from the shell and reserve the meat on the half shell.
4. Lay out on an oven tray, you might want to put foil down.
5. Add about a tablespoon of the pesto and place on top of the mussel
6. Place in a hot oven for about 5 minutes
*From www.grouprecipies.com

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