Black Caviar
Black caviar is harvested from the Sturgeon fish that
can be found in the Caspian Sea, the Black Sea, and occasionally the
Adriatic Sea. From the Caspian Sea alone, the Ossetra Sturgeon’s
roe is produced into royal black, prime, classic grey, and imperial
golden. The Sevruga Sturgeon’s roe is turned into classic grey.
Black caviar producing Sturgeon include the Ossetra, Sevruga and Beluga
varieties. Sturgeon can be caught wild, or farmed. There are also several
types of fish that are farmed to produce a caviar imitation. These fish
include the American Bowfin, American Pride, Paddlefish, Salmon roe,
Trout roe, and Whitefish roe.
Black caviar is called black because its appearance is a deep, inky
black color. The most expensive Beluga is prepared with almost no salt
– if the caviar you’re eating is “too salty”
it’s most likely an imitation or less expensive variety. Salt
is used to preserve the roe as well as in excess to mask certain imperfections.