The best quality caviar comes from the countries around the Caspian Sea, home to the Beluga, Osetra, and Sevruga sturgeon. For centuries, Russia and Iran have dominated the caviar market, producing the highest quality, and most in-demand, caviar in the world.
What is considered the best caviar in the world?
Beluga caviar
Beluga caviar is frequently considered the best caviar in the world, while Ossetra is best-known and an international favorite (also known as Oscietra, Osetra, or Asetra depending on the region it hails from and various dialectical spellings).
Which country has the most expensive caviar?
The Guinness World Book of Records states the most expensive caviar in the world is Almas from rare Iranian Albino Beluga sturgeons. “Almas” means diamond in Russian and with white pearls and a price tag of $34,500 for 1kg, you can see how it gets its name.
Why is Iranian caviar the best?
Iranian Ossetra Caviar. The world’s most tasteful caviar, which is mostly collected in Iran. This caviar is nutty and has a creamy taste. Ossetra has smaller eggs compared to Beluga and the taste of its eggs can differ based on what the fish has been eating.
What country is famous for producing caviar?
Caviar is made from the “roe” (or eggs) of a female sturgeon. These large migratory fish have lived for 250 million years in the cold waters of the northern hemisphere. They are traditionally found in the Caspian Sea, surrounded by present-day Russia and Iran, two well-known caviar-producing countries.
What’s the most expensive caviar?
Strottarga Bianco Caviar – $51,541.76 per pound
The most expensive caviar in the world today is Strottarga Bianco Caviar. This type has a lovely white gold color and it is a very rare type to obtain. This caviar comes from the Siberian Albino Sturgeon.
What color caviar is the best?
Gold caviar
Gold caviar of a true sturgeon is the most coveted color. Because only a very small fraction of sturgeons produce light eggs, they are rarer and therefore more expensive.
Why is Russian caviar so expensive?
Caviar on the other hand comes from farmed sturgeon. Though there are 27 different species of sturgeon, they are highly endangered (via Business Insider). The scarcity of sturgeon combined with the desirability of caviar as well as the extensive breeding and harvesting process is what makes it so expensive.
How long does caviar last?
four to six weeks
Refrigerated
If kept in an unopened vacuum-sealed container in a household refrigerator, caviar can last four to six weeks. It should be stored just around freezing point but not fully frozen.
What is the benefit of eating caviar?
High in good fat
In addition, caviar is high in omega-3 fatty acids. These good fats improve your mood and memory (among other things, they also help protect your brain cells) and are critical to components of a healthy pregnancy, maternal nutrition and infant development.
Which fish has the best caviar?
beluga sturgeon caviar
The world’s best caviar comes from Russian beluga sturgeon caviar. This is one of the oldest fish that can be found dating back to when dinosaurs roamed the earth! The female sturgeon can live over 110 years and does not produce fish eggs until fully matured, which can take up to 20 years.
Is Iranian caviar expensive?
Caviar is a very valuable substance, and the costliest one is the Iranian Caviar, which has the best quality and taste! Caviar is one of the most expensive foods in the world.
How much is Persian caviar?
But Iranian caviar is eyeing a comeback in the U.S.
Who first ate caviar?
The first known record of caviar dates back to the Greek scholar Aristotle. In the 4th Century B.C. Aristotle described this delicacy as the eggs of the sturgeon, heralded into banquets amongst trumpets and flowers. But it was Russia and the Russian Tsars that catapulted caviar into the world of utter luxury.
Where does Russia get its caviar?
Russia and Iran have long dominated the caviar export market, harvesting the delectable eggs from beluga sturgeon in the Caspian Sea.
Who is the largest producer of caviar?
China
Nowadays, the three largest countries producing farmed are China (nearly 40 tons), Italy (30 tons) and France (25 tons). Then come the USA, Germany, Bulgaria, Poland and Israel which produce 5 to 20 tons of caviar per year.
What is the rarest type of caviar?
The most expensive caviar is “Almas”, a golden caviar produced by very rare female albino sturgeon between 60 and 100 years old, which swims in the southern Caspian Sea near Iran where apparently less pollution exists.
What is the cheapest caviar?
For the least expensive caviar, Bergstein recommends hackleback (shown above), or paddlefish. They both come from wild American sturgeon. Hackleback is considered a good substitute for osetra caviar. It’s black, with a nutty finish.
Why is beluga caviar banned in the US?
Why is Beluga Caviar restricted or illegal to buy or sell in the United States? In short, because the Beluga sturgeon where the caviar eggs come from is critically endangered, so there are laws set to protect these endangered species.
Can I eat caviar everyday?
Most people view caviar as a treat to splurge on for special occasions. However, with brands like Imperia Caviar making it easier than ever before to access it, eating caviar can be an everyday affair.
How can you tell good caviar?
“Good caviar should have distinct eggs that separate when you roll them on the roof of your mouth,” says Alexandre. “They need to pop,” rather than taste mushy. When you open a tin, the caviar should be shiny, each egg glistening, not oily or murky. “Good caviar sparkles like diamonds,” says Alexandre.
Elvira Bowen is a food expert who has dedicated her life to understanding the science of cooking. She has worked in some of the world’s most prestigious kitchens, and has published several cookbooks that have become bestsellers. Elvira is known for her creative approach to cuisine, and her passion for teaching others about the culinary arts.