A mussel filters up to 75 liters of water a day. They adapt their taste to their environment, varying from intense in rocky areas to milder in sandy areas. There are over 17,000 species worldwide, including the particularly sweet and fleshy Mytilus galloprovincialis from Galicia.
Mussels can even change their sex during their lives, which increases their reproductive efficiency.
In the kitchen, mussels can be prepared in many ways. They can even form pearls, similar to oysters. Mussel farming in Galicia, especially on floating platforms called Bateas, is economically significant and an integral part of the local culture, celebrated through festivals and traditions. This traditional farming system shapes the coastal landscape of Galicia.