span data uw-rm -sr There are very few foods that can be immediately associated with luxury. Caviar, although it is not something that many people have had the chance to try, is a highly sought-after delicacy that will take your taste buds to the ocean every bite. You might be apprehensive at first about how caviar, a high-quality, premium food, can cost up to $35,000 per kilogram. But, if you dig deeper into the history of this delicious treat, you’ll quickly see why.
WHAT IS CAVIAR?
Beluga caviar is a delicious gourmet food enjoyed by caviar enthusiasts all over the globe. True caviar is made from sturgeon, and it’s only available in Champagne, France. Caviar has a unique texture and taste that is unlike any other. It is full of flavor in every bite.
The eggs of a female sturgeon are carefully removed from her eggs before they spawn. They are then washed and lightly salted to turn them into roe. While many fish can lay eggs that can then be made into tasty roe (which is what most caviars are), true caviar comes only from eggs of female sturgeon.
WHAT IS A STURGEON?
Sturgeon comes from the Acipenseridae Family. These fish can be found in 27 species of Sturgeon. They are mostly found in the Black Sea, Caspian Sea and parts of the Pacific Northwest as well as large lakes and rivers throughout Europe. There are many species of sturgeon, but not all eggs are the same! These four sturgeons are the most well-known and produce the highest quality caviar: Osetra (White Beluga), Almas, Kaluga (River Beluga), Kaluga (White Beluga), Osetra (Sevruga), and Almas (White Beluga).
KALUGA TURGEON
The Kaluga Sturgeon, also known as the “riverbeluga”, can grow to over 18 feet tall and weigh over 1,000 pounds. The Kaluga roe produces smooth, firm caviar with a buttery flavor and mild saltiness. The kaluga caviar roe can be large and range in color from greenish brown to black.
SEVRUGA STURGEON
Because it has a shorter reproduction cycle than its cousins, roe from this sturgeon is one of the most sought-after caviars on the market. Sevruga Roe is small and delicate. It can be found in a variety of colors, from grey to black. It has a buttery, smooth flavor and a slight saltiness.
OSETRA STURGEON
Osetra Roe is second in caviar quality, after beluga (River Beluga) and Kaluga (River Beluga). Osetra sturgeon produces medium-sized eggs with a range of colors from light gray to dark brown or golden brown. The roe has a rich, creamy and nutty taste that melts on the tongue.
ALMAS TURGEON
Almas is Russian for diamond. The world’s most rare caviar comes from the roe made by an albino sturgeon. These fish are very rare and can be found on the Iranian side the Caspian Sea. These eggs are creamy and white with a distinct nutty flavor.
BELUGA TURGEON
Beluga is a Caspian Sea fish, and is also known as a “huso huso”, which is the most expensive and sought-after caviar. This fish is the largest of all the sturgeon types and it happens to be the only carnivore among its species. Because of its size, beluga Caviar produces the largest number of fish eggs. This makes it highly sought after by many. These eggs come in a variety of colors, from light grey to black. They are considered one of the greatest pleasures by caviar lovers around the world. Every bite of beluga Caviar will transport you to the sea. The caviar melts on your tongue and allows you to truly enjoy the taste.
Caviar from Beluga, which contains 27 species of Sturgeon, is the most expensive. But why?
BELUGA CAVIAR
Russian beluga-sturgeon caviar is the best caviar. This fish is the oldest known and dates back to the time when dinosaurs walked the earth. The female sturgeon lives for over 110 years. However, it does not produce eggs until they are fully matured which can take as long as 20 years. It can take a long time to obtain beluga rose for caviar due to its slow reproduction cycle.
History from Beluga Caviar
Caviar has a fascinating backstory. Caviar was once only available to royalty. The middle ages British monarchs kept all the beluga-sturgeon for themselves, calling it the “Royal Fish.” Soon word spread and Russia was able to acquire the roe. This catapulted caviar into the realm of exquisite luxury. Caviar became a prized treat in Europe.
Henry Schacht, a German immigrant, established the Delaware River’s first caviar company in America in 1873. This revolutionized the caviar industry forever. Schacht was able sell the caviar at a fraction the price of what it was selling for in Europe due to the abundance and quality of sturgeon in the US. The gold mine Schacht was sitting upon caught the attention of the west coast and they began to harvest roe. Soon, more and more businesses started to harvest roe. By the 19th century, approximately 90% of the world’s caviar was produced in the United States. 40% of it came from Beluga, making it the most fished of all the 27 species.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Beluga caviar used to be sold in the U.S.A for pennies because of the high amount of sturgeon fish in the water. Many shops and saloons offered beluga caviar for free, as the saltiness of the water made people thirsty and forced them to buy food and water. Everything was going well until the beginning of the 20th century, when 18 of 27 species of Sturgeon were placed on the endangered list. Guess which species was the most endangered? You are correct if you guess beluga.
THE BOX
The US Fish and Wildlife Service declared the beluga-sturgeon a threatened species in 2004. Even after this announcement, wild beluga populations continued to decline due to overfishing for their delicious buttery roe. The United States banned import and sale of this highly valued fish and its deliciously rich eggs in 2005.
The ban on beluga imports into the USA is still in force. The U.S. actually has a ban on imports of beluga caviar. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service must inspect any caviar brought into the United States. They will ensure that it is correctly labeled and is not made from beluga-roe.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO GET BELUGA CAVIAR?
Overfishing and destruction of their habitat in the Caspian Sea led to a ban on beluga caviar. This was in the hope that they would one day be removed from the endangered species register. They are still extremely vulnerable to extinction. However, beluga caviar is not available here in the U.S.
FARM RAISED TURGEON
The global demand for caviar has increased as wild sturgeon stocks decrease and production of caviar begins to decline. This has pushed the prices up for this delicious delicacy. We are grateful for the hard work of ambitious farmers who have taken on the task of raising sturgeon. Farming sturgeon is expensive and time-consuming because of the long time it takes for females to produce eggs. Today, there are 51 sturgeon farms all over the globe. There are 21 in the USA, 21 in Europe, and 10 in France.
THE BEST CAAVIAR
There are many options for caviar and many ways to enjoy it. The Kaluga hybrid caviar is a rising star. Kaluga hybrid caviar is a mixture of the River Beluga Roe, Amur Roe. This caviar, when combined, is undoubtedly one of the best caviars you will ever taste. This caviar is a delicacy that can be enjoyed as an experience. It is the highest-grade hybrid caviar and Caviar in the USA. It has a buttery mild taste that resembles Beluga.
HOW TO ENJOY CAVIAR!
Caviar, no matter where you are in the world, is something everyone should experience. Caviar is a delicious and healthy treat. It is rich in vitamins and minerals that make it even more delicious. To ensure that your caviar doesn’t absorb any metallic flavors, we recommend you use a mother-of pearl spoon if you are trying it for the first time. You can enjoy the rich flavors of this luxury by simply taking a small amount into your mouth. Caviar can be enjoyed as it is. However, you can add additional flavors like chives, lemon or sour cream. A cracker, crème fraiche, or a blindi are great ways to enjoy caviar. A blini, which is a Russian specialty, is a thin pancake or crepe. Add a few drops of caviar to warm blini. Sprinkle on some chives. To enhance the creamy texture, you can use butter or sourcream. Or leave it as it is. Enjoy rolling the blini!
