Where Does the Best Caviar Come From?

Caviar has always been one of the most seeked out luxury dishes in the world. But with the abundance of cheap and massively reproduced species, it becomes important to know what roe you are being served.

There are only handful operations in the world that has a healthy production of caviar. Including: California caviar, Caspian Sea and Qiandao lakes in China.

It’s easy to over fish and let the sturgeon species responsible for savory caviar go extinct. That’s why strictly government-controlled fishing regions become important resources for the high-class caviar.

Not only that, but responsible business practices also play a big role in delivering the freshest and highest quality sturgeon roe possible.

But where can you get one? Where does the best sturgeon roe come from?

The power of China

China over many decades had its fair share of criticism: Tainted quality control scandals, questionable business practices, food safety concerns. On top of that the country is still mostly known for cheap and low-quality production.

None the less, China is dominating the Russian, Kaluga Hybrid, and Amur sturgeon roe exports. Making rounds of 60 tons per year. But that wasn’t always the case.

How you convince the world that China has its own high-quality production of Sturgeon caviar?

Well, it was no small feat, but they did it. Because truly, some of their product competes with the world-renowned exporters from Russia and Iran.

And they not only compete but at points dominate the market with its one of the best qualities and freshest sturgeon roe you could get. It comes from mountain watered man-made lakes in Zhejiang province of China. They have quite a few species to offer, but the best seller is Huso Hybrid coming at $210 per 30 grams.

On top of that, they make sure each can has a code that you can use to trace back the results of physicals, color even the fish itself. If that doesn’t speak of quality, I don’t know what does.

The famous Russian supply

Russia is most likely the first thing that comes to your mind when thinking of expensive caviar. And you be right. For more than a century Russia dominated the harvest and exports of the Russian sturgeon roe.

The exquisite nutty taste of Beluga caviar was served in almost every restaurant in Paris, United States, and the whole world. It still is one of the best sturgeon roes on the market. It’s often described as a sweet brine that makes a pop in your mouth; breath of the sea with a smooth texture.

But with the high demand, the high supply proved necessary. And that lead to overfishing of one of the main caviar supplies of Russia and Iran – Caspian Sea. Making government to intervene and regulate the catch of the fish that was so integral to the region.

Inevitably, this led to a shortage and a void in a market. Which quickly spawning the competition in Japan, Israel, and China.

Which is the best caviar?

The best tasting caviar was and still is found in Caspian Sea. The fish responsible for it is Russian beluga sturgeon. Even though a lot of fishes produce caviar, this one in particular is decided among many to be the best. Because it lacks the bitter taste that so many cheap caviar have.

And even now, with strict regulations, responsible fishing and tight competition from China, Russia still dominates in taste with supply to the whole world.

Don’t hesitate and look up the best supplier for your favorite caviar and begin your journey from the depths of Russian to the table of your home.