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What We ISLAND LIFE
Know and
Don’t Know Today Russia’s
ossetra caviar,
about sourced from a
CAVIAR particular variety
of sturgeon,
is the most
popular in the
world, capturing
a market share of
63 per cent
The story behind the
delicacy that’s fit for a Tsar!
Traditional caviar service featuring Siberian Black River Osetra caviar
People may like caviar or be the endangered Beluga sturgeon. The rarely caught. Such caviar is called “Tsar’s
absolutely indifferent to its ban extends for 10 years but scientific caviar†or “Golden caviar. †Although its
peculiar salty taste but it goes research and artificial breeding of black taste doesn’t differ from ordinary caviar,
without saying that caviar is caviar fish are exempted. the ossetra’s caviar is packed in glass jars
associated with luxury and wealth. In with yellow lids.
Russia and other European countries, Beluga
though very expensive, caviar is Scientists recognize 28 species of Sevruga
commonly served at holiday feasts, sturgeon and several varieties are found Sevruga is the second most sought
weddings and other festive occasions. in Russia. The most expensive is beluga after specimen. The fish has a very long
or white sturgeon. The biggest beluga stretched snout in a form of a sword and
Sturgeon is one of the ancient weighs about 1,600 kg and may be more can grow over 2 meters and up to 54 kg. It
representatives of the animal kingdom than 100 years old! can live up to 35 years and its caviar is 1.5
that’s still preserved to this day. This to 1.8 mm in diameter; its grains are grey
fish, being of the same age as the extinct Beluga’s female spawns up to five or dark grey with brown highlights. It has a
dinosaurs, appeared some 100 to 200 million eggs and can take up to a strong taste, and the pronounced flavour
million years ago. quarter of the fish weight. Beluga’s is appreciated by many chefs and it is the
caviar is characterized by grains up to least expensive as the sevruga sturgeon
The first literary references to sturgeons 2.5 mm diameter, more light-coloured is found in greater numbers. Sevruga
can be found in the works of Homer, shades, silver grey to black. Grains caviar is packed in glass jars with red lids.
Herodot and Aristotel. Alexander have a prominent dark spot called an
Makedonsky had feasts where caviar “eyeâ€. Grains have a creamy, almost Cinderella of the
was served on the dishes decorated buttery, more “pure†taste. In expensive Caviar World?
with garlands and accompanied by the restaurants 100 g of beluga’s caviar may
sounds of trumpets! cost US$2,000 and packed in 1, 2 or 4 oz And what about the so called red
glass jars with a blue lid. The similarity of caviar or salmon roe? Can we call it
Russian fishermen learned to produce caviar and gold is seen in the way they the Cinderella of the caviar world? It is
caviar in the 12th century and sturgeons are both measured in ounces! not as prestigious as the black one, of
were supplied to the Tsar’s throne since course. But it has unforgettable taste
the reign of Ivan the Terrible (from 16th Today Russia’s ossetra caviar, sourced and gives us very special gustatory,
century). In the Middle Ages caviar was from a particular variety of sturgeon, is tactile and visual sensations. Grains
very popular in Italy but not in Germany. the most popular in the world, capturing of Keta salmon are 4 to 6 mm in
As for the French, they preferred the a market share of 63 per cent. The fish diameter and of orange colour. Grains
sturgeon meat. grows up to 2.2-2.4 meters and can weigh of Humpback salmon are 3-5 mm
between 65 to 115 kg. The greatest and of deep orange colour. Grains of
Black Caviar Banned age of ossetra which was recorded was Blue-backed and Silver salmon are 3
Recently, the amount of wild sturgeons 48 years. Its grains are about 2 mm in mm and of bright red colour. The true
allowed to be harvested has been diameter. They are firm juicy grains with gourmands consider the level of salt
reduced, consequently increasing a distinctive nutty taste. Their colour in caviar with certain trepidation. To
caviar prices. The harvesting and sale varies and can be greenish, yellowish check if it’s right, they use a silver
of black caviar have been banned in and brownish with golden highlights. ball which they put on the surface of
Russia since 1st August 2007 to protect Ossetra with light, nearly white caviar is caviar. If it sinks immediately, caviar is
too salty for them.
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