Periwinkle

Periwinkles are small marine gastropod molluscs of the family Littorinidae, gathered from rocks and seaweed in coastal areas across the North Atlantic and Pacific. The common periwinkle (Littorina littorea) is the primary species eaten in Europe, where it is a traditional seaside snack in the UK, Ireland, France, and Galicia, boiled and extracted from the shell with a pin. In France, bigorneaux are a staple of fruits de mer. In Korea, whelk and periwinkle preparations are common in preserved seafood. Tinned periwinkles appear from British, Irish, and French specialty producers, and from Korean and Chinese producers offering preserved snail-like shellfish in seasoned sauces.