Buying Russian Caviar
Buying wild Russian beluga caviar is now not possible due to trade bans, however there are some great alternatives to imported beluga caviar.
Russian caviar is considered by many to be the best caviar and is famous the world over. The best caviar comes from the beluga, sevruga, and osetra sturgeon in the Caspian and Black Sea; other varieties on the market are actually caviar alternatives and come from fish such as paddlefish, salmon and lumpfish.
The beluga is the largest of the sturgeon family and produces the most expensive caviar. This is due to the beluga sturgeon not producing roe until the age of 17. Beluga caviar is firm and has a fresh nutty taste.
Caviar alternatives now dominate the market due to the overfishing of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea where the sturgeon species is now threatened. This has resulted in an international ban in the trade of wild beluga sturgeon caviar, although this ban does not affect farmed beluga caviar. This is the reason that Russian caviar is very hard to come by and is reflected in the price you have to pay for this product. It is also the reason caviar alternatives have now become so popular.
Russian caviar is labelled ‘malossol’, this means ‘lightly salted’ and only contains 2% salt. Lesser caviar can contain up to 8% salt. Russian caviar is also graded by its color, the lighter the color the higher the price, although the color does not affect the taste.
Russian caviar is mostly eaten with toast, and can be served with iced vodka. It is also served with cream cheese and blinis and would be eaten with mother of pearl glass or bone spoons. It is said that metal spoons taint the flavor of the caviar, but this is a myth as caviar is often packed and shipped in metal containers.
Russian caviar is going to get even more expensive as demand outstrips supply as the sturgeon is now protected from overfishing.There is an agreement between the Caspian Sea states not to fish for wild sturgeon for the next 5 years, only Iran will still catch sturgeon.
It follows that you should not buy beluga caviar from wild sturgeon as the source may be illegal and the product quality could be poor. Only buy caviar from reputable sources.
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