A look at the Process of Producing Caviar
Wild Caviar
Since 2011, there is no longer wild caviar as it has been banned in the World by CITES.
Some species such as Huso huso have been overfished for their prized Beluga caviar and was to near extinction. Fortunately these species of sturgeon is now farmed and we have been able to enjoy this exquisite caviar again.
Farmed Caviar
Almost all caviar is farmed nowadays and the quality of farmed caviar is extremely high. The first countries to farm caviar were Italy, France Iran and China. As reported by Bloomberg, the finest caviar no longer comes from Russian, but from China.
Unlike many farms in Italy, France or require which require man-made filtration systems and concrete tanks to raise sturgeon, China’s natural habitat makes it ideal to farm sturgeon.
Sturgeons require extremely clean waters to live in and the natural lakes and climate of Qiandao lakes enable high quality caviar to be produced.
Alain Ducasse, a Michelein starred chef with many restaurants around the world, uses caviar from Qiando lakes, China at his restaurants. The caviar chosen is from the largest sturgeon farm in the world.
One of the oldest delicacies of the world
Caviar is unfertilized roe
Caviar is harvested from sturgeon fish, which is a distant relative of the shark
Why is Caviar so expensive?
1. Over farming in the 1990's.
2. Only 5 of 27 sturgeon in the world can produce caviar.
3. It takes at least 8-20 years for sturgeon to produce caviar
4. Caviar harvesting is expensive and complicated
How to eat Caviar?
Fine caviar is best served with plain toast, bland crackers or served with blinis.
Common accompaniments include crème fraiche, lemon wedges, egg whites and egg yolks, minced onions with blinis.
What to drink with Caviar ?
Classic pairing
1. Champagne - the bubbles and acidity of champagne allow it to cut through the silkiness and slight salty pop of caviar.
2. Vodka--Served ice cold, vodka has a subtle flavor that permits the distinctive taste of caviar to prevail
How to buy caviar &
What you need to know
1. Allow about 15-20 gm per person.
2. Store caviar at the coldest part of your fridge at -2C to 2C.
3. You don't need a Mother of Pearl Spoon. You can use a porcelain or wood spoon.
4. Eat the caviar however you like, but definitely try some by itself!
How is Caviar Processed?
Other than the sturgeon type, caviar size, texture and colour, the processing method also determines the quality.
The best technique for caviar is malossol process. Malossol is a Russian word and actually means lightly salted. Fresh caviar (also the best) mainly comes with a three to five percent salt content. Malossol caviar is best in class caviar, which makes it more expensive.
Beluga Caviar
The king of caviar from the largest sturgeon known as Huso huso. They can live up to 100 years and their caviar is one of the most sought for.
Beluga caviar size is largest with minimum size of 3.2 mm
From $1028
Tasting Notes
Creamy, buttery, with a subtle nutty and briny flavor. Always smooth, mild, and delicious.
Siberian Caviar
Species
物種
Size
大小
When harvested
成熟產卵
Tasting Notes
鮮味與回甘
Acipenser Baerii
2.8 mm
7 years
鮮味清新及清香
Price
價格
$
Hybrid Caviar
Species
物種
Size
大小
When harvested
成熟產卵
Tasting Notes
鮮味與回甘
Kaluga x Amur
3.0 mm
8 years
有著奶油感及持久鮮味
Price
價格
$
Kaluga Caviar
Species
物種
Size
大小
When harvested
成熟產卵
Tasting Notes
鮮味與回甘
Huso Dauricus
3.2 mm
15 years
外觀飽滿渾圓，入口甘香
Price
價格
$$$
Osetra Caviar
Species
物種
Size
大小
When harvested
成熟產卵
Tasting Notes
鮮味與回甘
Acipenser Gueldenstaedtii
2.9 mm
11 years
口感是一種很特別的堅果風味
Price
價格
$$$
Beluga Caviar
Species
物種
Size
大小
When harvested
成熟產卵
Tasting Notes
鮮味與回甘
Huso Huso
3.5 mm
15 years
奶油風味
Price
價格
$$$$
Kaluga Caviar
This caviar comes from the Huso Dauricus sturgeon, which is from the same family as Huso Huso sturgeon or Beluga caviar. This sturgeon is native to the Amur River brodering Russia and China. It is as large as the Beluga Caviar Sturgeon.
It can take up to 18 years for the sturgeon to mature and so the size of the caviar is large with a minumum size of 3.2 mm
From the largest caviar farm
in the world
Tasting Notes
Kaluga Caviar has earned a reputation for being exceedingly rare, pricey, and delicious.
Kaluga Caviar may even exceed the exquisite culinary experience of the Beluga Caviar.
The caviar has a gorgeous nutty flavor, large pearls, firm and smooth texture, and a long finish.