The Solar Tide
A patented innovation
Developed by Florent Tarbouriech and his son Romain in 2006, La Marée Solaire® is a patented innovation that is self-sufficient in energy (solar and wind), can be controlled remotely via a simple smartphone and reproduces the phenomenon of moon tides in lagoons.
A programme that can be adjusted according to the key parameters of the environment: climate, season, age of the oysters, etc. the richness of water, is developed. This can last up to 48 hours of continuous exondation. The aim is simple: in the absence of a moon tide, the oyster farmer gives his oysters the best of the water and the sun by controlling the solar tide.
A system that allows the appropriate exondation for each batch, depending on the various surveys of their development during their rearing cycle: once a week for the Réserve Tarbouriech and daily for the Spéciale Tarbouriech.
The exondation
Exondation has always been part of oyster farming in the Thau Basin. This delicate process involves removing the oysters from the water and exposing them to the air.
Originally, oyster farmers did this by hand. The complexity of the task and the physical effort required could not be applied to regular production in terms of quantity and quality.
Maison Tarbouriech’s solution to this problem is the fruit of extensive R&D work.
Remote intensity control
This system enables the appropriate exondation to be applied to each batch, depending on the different polls and their evolution during the rearing cycle, as well as external parameters such as water temperature, richness, wind speed and many other criteria.
Two patents have been filed on this innovation, one for the process of growing shellfish in suspension by exondation, the other for the necessary breeding superstructure (oyster farm).
The result
An inimitable pink shell
Thanks to this process, the shell of the Spéciale Tarbouriech oyster develops a thicker mother-of-pearl, immaculately white on the inside, slightly pink on the outside and freed by the combined effect of the Mistral and the sun from all the algae and colonisers that usually attach themselves to the shell underwater.
Dense flesh
Out of the water, the oyster strengthens its adductor muscle in order to conserve the intervalvular liquid that is essential to its survival. Then immersed in the rich waters of the lagoon, it stores phytoplankton, making its flesh denser. Thanks to this process, the flesh becomes denser and crunchier, with a more refined flavour.
Unbeatable taste
Finely iodised and surprisingly sweet, Spéciale Tarbouriech is an invitation to travel, to discover the Etang de Thau which gives it its rich, balanced taste between iodine and sweetness with subtle notes of hazelnut and mushroom. Remarkably long on the palate.
THO-LAGOON
How do I become an oyster farmer?
We’re proud of our innovations and the benefits they bring us every day. The world we dream of is an open world where ideas and values are shared. That’s why we put the very best of our technologies and methods at your disposal, starting with our major innovation, the Solar Tide.
Mother-of-pearl-based marine cosmetics
The mother-of-pearl from our oysters in the Thau lagoon is rich in minerals, proteins and amino acids. We use it in our cosmetics to improve the skin’s elasticity and radiance, reduce wrinkles and protect it from external aggressors.
