Caviar

Types of Caviar

The sturgeon fish family (scientific name Acipenseridae) has over 25 species, which originate and live in different parts of the world.

Each species produces unique and distinct eggs that differ in taste, size, and colour. You may have heard of some of the most expensive and popular ones such as Beluga Caviar, Ossetra Caviar, and Sevruga Caviar.

Similarly, other non-sturgeon caviars come from hundreds of different families of fish and vary in size, taste and colour as well.

If you’re curious to learn more about the different types of caviar, check out this guide.

Grading & Labelling System

Caviar is graded on the basis of egg size, egg shape and firmness. A large egg, with a perfectly spherical shape and firm texture will command a top grade.

You may have come across certain labels that say “Imperial”, “Royal”, “Royal Imperial”, “Special Reserve”, “President”, “Tsar”, etc.

These are not part of an industry standard and each producer uses them differently mainly for marketing purposes and product differentiation.

For example, you may find a producer with Classic Beluga ($), Imperial Beluga ($$), and Royal Beluga ($$$). While these are all caviar from the same species (Beluga Sturgeon), the difference will be the egg size, shape, and firmness amongst other less important factors such as colour.

In the end, you must look beyond the marketing labels, find a trusted source, and more importantly, one you can buy from and enjoy consistently.