Folklore

I shall make the most of this bowl of winkles . . .it may be the last I will be able to enjoy until September!

That is if you believe the folklore that shellfish should be avoided if there is not an ’R’ in the month. That means while you can eat mussels, oysters, and indeed, winkles from September through to April, they should be avoided from May through the summer months until September.

Whether this is an old wives’ tale is another matter, but the saying is certainly founded on an element of truth. It’s a twin problem in so much that in summer when waters are warmer, there is a much greater risk of toxins to be present, and it is also the spawning period for shellfish which apart from breeding considerations, also changes the flavour of some shellfish.

These risks can be controlled when shellfish is farmed, but the saying is still one you’ll hear regularly . . . and for me that could well mean no delicacies like this for a little while.