When it comes to caviar, caviar beluga is a sure-fire choice for those looking to taste the best caviar. This article breaks down the flavor profile, the price, and popular alternatives to high-priced caviar beluga. You will also learn all about the incredible history of the best caviar beluga on the planet, where it comes from, and where it is obtained today.
Caviar Beluga at a Glance
Caviar is widely known as one of the most exclusive products of sophisticated gastronomy. However, caviar beluga has no other competition whatsoever. This type of caviar is unique because it bursts with a complex, incredibly delicious flavor in your mouth. In fact, caviar beluga is the most sought-after type of caviar because it has a divine, unrepeatable flavor no other kind of caviar can give you.
Really, it's no wonder that caviar beluga 250g cost is downright dizzying. However, excellent caviar replacements are available to anyone who wishes to treat their taste buds with some of the most delicious foods. Scroll down, and you will learn everything you need to know about the most exclusive type of caviar, its price, and the perfect replacements you can get.
The exclusivity of beluga caviar comes from the fact that it comes from the Huso Huso or Beluga sturgeon. It's an enormous fish, really, which means the size of its eggs is the largest to find. Moreover, they are incredibly smooth in texture and have a heavenly, complex, and downright life-enriching taste.
Caviar beluga has a smooth, buttery flavor resembling hazelnut. But, if it's true beluga, it should have that "Caspian pop" characteristic - eggs bursting in your mouth.
What Does the Name Caviar Mean?
The word caviar has an etymological origin and roots in the word "khâvyâr," translated as "generator of roe." This unique delicacy was a part of the Persian and Greek diet since
ancient people believed the sturgeon's eggs empowered human strength and endurance. Caviar was always considered a high luxury, and as such, it was consumed mainly by high society.
Caviar beluga comes from Beluga sturgeon, a gigantic, prehistoric fish that can be as much as 15-feet-long and weigh almost 3000 pounds. The fish responsible for the most exclusive type of caviar comes from the Caspian Sea. But, although beluga caviar comes from an enormous fish with pearl grey to pitch-black color, it does not have that fishy taste many would naturally expect.
Huso Huso, the Most Luxurious Type of Caviar
The only carnivore of its species, Huso Huso, is definitely the most luxurious type of caviar you can obtain. As a matter of fact, the Russian beluga sturgeon is one of the oldest fish. In fact, Huso Huso was there when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Since female sturgeon can live for up to 150 years and not produce eggs until it's fully matured, the steep price is entirely understandable.
After all, this can take up to 20 years, but it's so worth the wait. Just one little bite, and you will feel like you're about to circle the world by sea. The beluga sturgeon eggs melt on the tongue, making it incredibly costly but highly delicious. But be warned, the price of these brilliantly tasteful eggs is steep - anywhere from $5,000 to $10,000 per kilogram.
‘Russian Czar’ Beluga Sturgeon Caviar
However, those who can afford to get their hands on some caviar beluga say it's the best thing you will ever try during this lifetime.
How Much Does Caviar Beluga Cost?
As already mentioned, beluga caviar is the most expensive type of caviar you can find, with current market prices ranging from $7,000 to 10,000 per kilogram or $200 to $300 per ounce. That is due to the long reproduction of the beluga sturgeon that produces the highest-quality eggs. Additionally, caviar beluga is harder to obtain because of overexploitation and habitat destruction in the Caspian Sea.
Luckily, caviar enthusiasts of the world can remain calm since there are farmers nowadays raising sturgeon. So you can find top-notch caviar in 15 European countries and 21 US states. There are several farmers across Asia also. But, the business is expensive, and so is caviar beluga.
Caviar enthusiasts typically buy 2oz or 4oz size caviar to try it out. However, it's recommended to purchase 8oz or 16oz caviar tin for a large party so everyone can get a fair few bites and immerse into gastronomical heaven.
For example, 2oz Beluga Sturgeon Caviar costs $475. But, if you buy a large, 16oz caviar tin, the delicacy will set you back $1,995. However, you can pay less but still have the life-enriching experience of caviar.
"River Beluga" Kaluga Sturgeon Caviar costs $285 for 2oz and $1,195 for 16oz to serve a large party. "Oprah's Favorite" Russian Osetra Caviar has a similar price, $295 for 2oz and $1,195 for a 16oz package. An excellent replacement for caviar beluga is the "Traditional Russian Siberian Sturgeon Caviar," costing $285 for 2oz and $1,195 for a 16oz package.
In essence, caviar beluga is undoubtedly very expensive, and although it's legitimately called the "king of caviar," truth be told, it's still a bit overrated and overpriced.
Therefore, we recommend the Kaluga as mentioned earlier. It's a River Beluga caviar and a best-seller. Siberian sturgeon, Russian osetra (Oprah's favorite Caviar), white sturgeon (Vladimir Putin's favorite Caviar) are also fantastic and most popular alternatives to beluga caviar.
The hands-down best caviar in the world comes from Russian beluga sturgeon from the Acipenseridae family. The fish roams the Black Sea, Caspian Sea, the South Atlantic parts of North America, the Pacific Northwest, and some lakes and rivers in Europe.
The most popular caviar comes from Beluga, River Beluga (Kaluga), Almas (White Beluga), Osetra, and Sevruga sturgeon. The utterly exclusive caviar beluga comes from the White Beluga of the Caspian Sea, with scarce white eggs carrying a distinctive, smooth and nutty taste.
Therefore, the highest quality caviar beluga is produced in countries surrounding the Caspian Sea - Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan. China has also joined these countries recently as a prominent exporter of caviar over to the United States.
Unfortunately, these species are vulnerable to extinction due to overexploitation.
Caviar Beluga Flavor Profile
Truth be told, you cannot really describe the taste of caviar beluga to someone who has never tried it. Even for caviar connoisseurs, this task is no easy feat. First of all, taste is a subjective matter. Also, there are many subtle or not-so-subtle differences in various caviar types.
But, there have been many mouth-watering explanations of caviar beluga taste. For example, "a breath of the sea," "buttery decadence," etc. In essence, caviar beluga has a smooth, buttery, and nutty flavor similar to hazelnut, with that magnificent "Caspian pop."
But since we know it's also famously expensive, you can opt for excellent replacements for beluga caviar. The top types of those are Russian Osetra caviar and Kaluga Caviar which is the most similar to beluga in taste. In addition, white sturgeon and Siberian sturgeon are also popular alternatives.
On the contrary, salmon caviar is not that expensive and is a good alternative for those who like the seawater taste of caviar. The eggs are large and red, and bursting with flavor. However, the taste is very different from beluga caviar.
Caviar Beluga Food Pairings
If you ask the experts, caviar is best enjoyed cold and on its own, paying particular attention to the details of serving. First of all, do not use metal utensils since metal could affect the delicious taste of caviar. In fact, there is a special caviar spoon available. It's typically made of bone, plastic, or pearl.
But, caviar also has some excellent food pairings that work as added taste to the caviar. Some of those are:
• Toast
• Minced onions
• Lemon wedges
• Chives
• Potatoes
• Sour cream
• Hard-cooked eggs
As a general rule of thumb, the more quality caviar you serve, you will need fewer side dishes. After all, it's a total shame to eat anything alongside the most exclusive caviar on the planet. However, if you're serving affordable type caviar, don't worry since a good pick of side dishes can enhance its flavor.
One caviar beluga 250g typically serves approximately five people if they are just tasting the delicacy. Experts recommend 30g to 50g per person. Two persons would be satisfied with 50 to 100g of caviar beluga. But, if you're making a large party with six to 12 people, you should get a larger size than 250g.
How to Serve Caviar Beluga
Never spread nor crush the eggs since it destroys the texture, and be careful when spooning them out when serving. A pearl spoon made of mother of pearl or bone is usually used to handle beluga caviar.
Open your beluga caviar tin, take a spoonful of the delicious treat into your mouth, let the eggs roll onto your palate, and wait for the pop!
As mentioned earlier, caviar beluga does not really need any other garnishing. However, the side dishes can be served to use as palate cleansers.
Conclusion
If you're looking for the most exclusive food of the Gods caviar of the planet, you've found it. Caviar beluga is truly the one-of-a-kind treat for your palate, with the soul-enriching taste you would hardly forget.
But that said, this type of caviar is still a bit overpriced, even with all of its exclusivity. Many excellent alternatives are available, with Kaluga, Russian Osetra, and White Sturgeon being the most popular choices.
About the Author
Igor Fishbeyn - Caviar Purveyor
Igor Fishbeyn is purveyor of fine sturgeon caviar and creator of the Skazka Caviar brand. He is an expert with decades of experience specializing in importing, wholesaling, and retailing the finest quality caviar in the world. Igor frequently writes about caviar news and various topics about the caviar industry. He lives in San Francisco with his wife and daughter.
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