What Is Caviar?

Yes, caviar is fish eggs — salt-cured eggs from sturgeon fish, to be more precise.
Today, there are a variety of different kinds of caviar, each coming from different sturgeon fish. “The original caviar came from a wild fish species in the Caspian Sea,” Batakova tells The Manual.

Osetra Caviar, which includes the iconic beluga fish (not to be confused with the beluga whale), is more expensive than U.S. caviar simply because it is harder to get. Note: Caviar is not to be confused with roe, which is another term for fish eggs. There are also a variety of substitute caviars made with roe from different fish species, but “true” caviar comes from sturgeons.

“The more salty caviar is usually darker in color,” Batakova says. “But it also depends on the type of fish, type of salt, and processing method.”

You’ll want your caviar preserved with the malossol process. This word describes a salting process that infuses caviar with three-to-five-percent salt for optimal preservation and flavor enhancement. Other methods are notorious for over-salting or pressing their caviar. All you need to know is “malossol,” so look for that on the label.

Caviar has a delicate taste, much like oysters, and is typically put on a small puff pastry cup and then topped with crème Fraiche (aka fancy sour cream), finely chopped egg whites, and chopped red onion. “You don’t put lemon on it, even though it’s visually garnished with lemon. This can change or even spoil the taste,” Batakova explains.
When serving caviar, it is very important to not use a metal spoon. OLMA and other caviar bars serve with pearl spoons, as the metal has a slightly acidic reaction with the caviar and changes the taste. A tablespoon or two is the perfect amount of caviar for a good taste.

“Vodka or bubbles,” declares Batakova. “Like a dry champagne, not a sweet, or a shot of vodka.”

“First-timers should try American wild caviar. It doesn’t cost too much — about $26 for one ounce,” says Batakova. You don’t need to break your budget trying caviar, especially if you don’t know if you’ll like it. “Most people think caviar is so expensive since it used to be food for royalty, but it’s not,” Batakova elaborates.

Best is subjective. “The quality of caviar doesn’t mean the most expensive is the best. The pricing relates to how rare it is,” Batakova explains. Consumer preference is the ultimate judge, depending on if the person likes something more salty, mild, creamy, or buttery.

“Some people really happen to like the taste of the cheapest caviar, even though they can afford any,” Batakova says of her clientele. “It also depends on the celebration and if you want something special to eat that is very hard to get.”

If it’s your first taste of caviar, you can start with American Caviar.

Wild-caught American caviars have a range of different types and tastes, from smooth and buttery to salty and intense. Start with either OLMA Hackleback Caviar, which has medium-sized eggs and a firm texture, or OLMA Paddlefish Caviar, which is more creamy with a slightly fishier taste.

If you like to explore more premium options, move on to Osetra caviar.

Osetra has three common caviars: 1) OLMA Osetra Caviar harvested from sturgeons captured in the Caspian Sea, which ranges from $35 to $300 and has medium-large beads; 2) OLMA Kaluga Caviar, which is famous for its powerful yet smooth and buttery flavor and starts at $50 (at least) and goes up to $500-plus; and 3) OLMA Beluga Caviar, which can run you over $1,000 easy.

The importation of Beluga Caviar was banned in the U.S. in 2005. That’s because the beluga sturgeon fish is critically endangered. OLMA Caviar was the first company in the US to introduce a legal hybrid variety of Beluga Caviar, which is closest to authentic beluga caviar as you can get. The eggs are slightly smaller, the color will bridge from deep golden brown to black-ish, and the taste is more intense