What Is Caviar?

Caviar is one of the oldest delicacies and was commonly enjoyed by kings. Today, caviar is more reasonably priced so more of us “commoners” can indulge in the gourmet food. However, there is still caviar that can get really expensive. Learn about the history of caviar and get some shipped right to your door if you’d like.

What Is Caviar?

According to Wikipedia, caviar is a delicacy consisting of salt-cured fish eggs of the Acipenseridae family. Fish eggs, also known as roe, can be fresh (non-pasteurized) or pasteurized, which reduces its culinary and economic value. (Aka, the fresher the roe, the more expensive it is.) Caviar is considered a delicacy and is typically eaten as a garnish or spread.

What Fish Does Caviar Come From?

Traditionally caviar comes from wild Sturgeon in the Caspian Sea and Black Sea (Beluga, Ossetra and Sevruga caviars). While Sturgeon caviar is the original caviar, caviar is also used to describe the roe of salmon, steelhead, trout, lumpfish, whitefish, carp and other species of sturgeon.

What Is Beluga Caviar?

Beluga caviar is the rarest and most expensive caviar, which also means it’s the best caviar. It comes from the Beluga Sturgeon, which comes from the Caspian Sea. It is prized for its soft, extremely large eggs (pea-size) and ranges in color from pale silver-gray to black.

According to the Guinness World Records, the most expensive caviar is Almas, from the Iranian Beluga fish. Almas comes from the eggs of rare albino sturgeon between 60-100 years old and swims in the southern Caspian Sea. How much is caviar from this fish? For 2 pounds 3 ounces of Almas, you’ll pay $34,500! If you do not want to spend tens of thousands of dollars on Almas, you can settle for North Atlantic salmon roe or whitefish roe, which are less expensive and similar to caviar.

Editor’s Picks for Caviar

Below are a couple of suggestions we have for you to consider if you’re looking for caviar.

Traditional Caviar

Classic Grey Sevruga Caviar on Amazon

Want to try caviar online? If you’re looking to try traditional caviar, we recommend this Classic Grey Sevruga Caviar. It is among the best quality of caviar. It ships overnight FedEx to keep it from spoiling. This caviar is harvested from Sevruga that usually swims in the Caspian Sea. Sevruga caviar is considered to have the most intense and rich flavor among other caviar like the Osetra and Beluga. It has a buttery flavor and is great for any occasion.

• Price for 35.2 ounces:  Check Amazon for availability

Modern/Inexpensive Caviar

View on Amazon

If you’re looking for a less expensive caviar to try out, we recommend this Roland Black Caviar, Whole Grain Lumpfish. This lumpfish roe is caught in the North Sea between Iceland and Denmark. It is firm and crunchy in texture.

• Price for two ounces: 

How to Eat Caviar

Before you dig into your caviar, make sure you eat it properly so you can enjoy every bit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSOr5PSvbao

Have you ever tried caviar? What did you think?