Caviar is a luxury from the sea with a taste and texture unlike any other. You might have seen it in movies or on expensive menus and wondered what it would be like to try it. While you'll have to taste it yourself to get the full experience, this guide provides a solid idea of what caviar tastes like.
What is Caviar?
Caviar is a type of roe. Roe refers to unfertilized eggs from fish — the most delicious, interesting and elegant fish eggs on Earth. Caviar is commonly served in a dish on top of a bed of crushed ice along with a mother of pearl spoon — a great alternative to metal serving spoons, which are known to damage the taste.
A traditional way to serve caviar is to let people dish it themselves from a platter onto Russian pancakes — or blini — and toast points. These are often accompanied by other toppings such as onion, chives and crème Fraiche.
What is the Taste of Caviar?
While each type of caviar tastes different, they all have a complex oceanic flavor with a bright, buttery finish. It comes in waves, with the first wave tasting like especially rich raw oysters and the second delivering a smooth, nutty flavor that lingers on the tongue.
As for texture, caviar is smooth, but not oily. The skin of the roe has slight resistance, some more than others. It often produces a bursting sensation in the mouth when rolling the caviar over your tongue. Of course, your teeth do not have taste buds, so we suggest experiencing our caviar like a fine wine, taking in the odor and appreciating the texture, juice and taste of caviar as you roll it over your tongue instead of taking a bite.
Is Caviar Salty?
Most caviar is slightly salty with a mild fishy flavor. As expected, the taste of caviar tends to resemble fresh ocean water. If it tastes too fishy or salty, it’s probably not high quality caviar.
Besides a mild and fresh taste, quality caviar will also have an unexpected buttery richness that delights the tastebuds. You might notice lingering flavor notes reminiscent of butter or walnuts that will leave you wanting more.
Why Does Some Caviar Taste Different Than Others?
Various factors influence how caviar tastes, such as:
- Where the fish comes from.
- The quality of the water.
- The food the fish eats.
- The fish's age — older sturgeon tend to produce the best caviar.
Flavor profiles can vary by type of caviar. To be considered “true caviar,” the fish roe must come from the sturgeon family. Read on to learn more about the different types and colors of caviar and their unique flavors.
What Does Each Type of Caviar Taste Like?
Some main types of caviar derived from sturgeon species are Beluga, Osetra, Sevruga, Sterlet and Kaluga. Let's explore the unique tastes of each type.
1. Beluga Caviar
Beluga sturgeon is considered one of the most exquisite caviar varieties. With a soft, clear and glossy facade ranging in color from light silver-gray to black, Beluga is particularly creamy in texture. It is found primarily in the Caspian Sea between Russia and Iran but is no longer legal to import into the United States. This is largely due to the animal's endangered status from being overfished.
A rare form of Iranian Beluga, Almas caviar is produced from white sturgeon between 60-100 years old swimming only in the southern Caspian Sea. This is the most expensive caviar type, sometimes selling for over $35,000 per kilogram. rather than a salty and fishy taste, Beluga's flavor is intensely creamy and nutty with a long finish.
2. Ossetra Caviar
Ossetra sturgeon eggs have a rich, nutty flavor and can vary in color from brown to golden and even jade. It typically has medium-sized pearls and makes an excellent alternative to Beluga caviar.
3. Kaluga Caviar
Also called “river Beluga,” Kaluga caviar tastes similar to Beluga. Its texture is smooth, buttery and creamy with a firm burst, making it a favorite for connoisseurs who can't get hold of traditional Beluga.
4. Sterlet Caviar
Sterlet caviar has a deeply buttery flavor. It typically appears light to dark gray, with smaller pearls than Sevruga.
5. Sevruga Caviar
Sevruga pearls come in a range of colors from light gray to black, and it has a buttery, intensely oceanic flavor similar to Beluga. While sevruga eggs are smaller than Beluga and Ossetra, they are more abundant.
How Does the Taste of Caviar Differ by Color?
Caviar comes in a wide variety of colors. Black, red, white, silver — even gold caviar! Fish roe that comes from a sturgeon is typically classified as black caviar since these eggs take on a darker color. Meanwhile, orange, red and yellow fish roe often come from salmon, whitefish or trout. These fall into the “red caviar” category despite not meeting the technical definition of caviar.
There's also white caviar, which is derived from the processed or fresh eggs of land snails. It's also referred to as “snail caviar,” “escargot pearls” or “escargot caviar.”
In general, many people describe all caviar as tasting like the ocean, but each color has its own flavor characteristics. We'll compare their distinctive flavor profiles below:
- Black caviar: Black caviar, or sturgeon roe, tends to have buttery, nutty, sweet and salty notes all in one. While it's delectable on its own, traditional black caviar accompanies a variety of foods like eggs, potatoes and bread.
- Red caviar: Red caviar, like salmon roe or tobiko, typically has a slightly fishy and salty taste. Salmon caviar is commonly spread over lightly buttered toast, unsalted crackers and blini.
- White caviar: Snail eggs are known for their milky-white, opaque color. They have a unique earthy flavor rather than a fishy taste, almost resembling hints of mushrooms and moss. White caviar may require a few tastes to fully appreciate its flavor, but when you do, you'll find it not only makes dishes tasty but also aesthetically pleasing.
Try the Taste of Caviar for Yourself
While these are the common tastes associated with different varieties, the only real way to determine flavor is to taste caviar for yourself. Whether it's enjoying caviar on its own or using it for some tasty appetizers, ordering fresh caviar online is easier than ever with Imperia Caviar.
Many people shy away from trying caviar because they think of it as exclusive and costly — a splurge to only be tried once in a blue moon like truffles or champagne. While it's true that the expense and availability of good caviar are governed by supply and demand relationships, Imperia Caviar is at the forefront of a progressive culinary movement to make food luxuries accessible, ethical and affordable.
From our point of view, caviar can be a modern, delicious stable foodstuff enjoyed by food lovers worldwide. To experience these delectable flavors for yourself, browse our premium caviar selection and order yours today!
