There are many types of premium food and recipes that we can find all over the world. However, nothing holds the same popularity as caviar, which is considered one of the most luxurious meals that you can serve on the table. Also, not so many people have a chance to enjoy this meal so often due to its extremely high price. There are some cheaper options as well, but only special ones made of salmon or sturgeon provide the right quality and taste.
Moreover, the market is full of stores where you can find all sorts of caviar. Some of them might come at a surprisingly low price. Keep in mind that chances are higher that it is a fake or low-quality product in that case. If you are interested in buying caviar, the best option is to check well-known stores like Lemberg.
We have to mention that there are different types and categories where the price of one can of 50 g costs you more than 200 pounds, or even more in some cases. For example, a premium brand of Beluga caviar might cost over 2,000 pounds for 100 grams. In this article, we are going to introduce you to some of the most important details related to this food and the reasons why it is so expensive.
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How It is Made?
The recipe for this food is quite simple. The eggs from the fish are harvested and salted. However, it cannot be made from any type of fish. When it comes to premium and original type, it is made of sturgeon eggs. It is a type of fish that lives in Siberian Rivers. Moreover, you have to know that there are still issues with the black market.
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There is a law introduced 10 years ago where it was made illegal to catch wild fish for this product. There are special farms where fish is treated in a way where it won’t die after the eggs are harvested. The interesting fact is that a sturgeon can live up to 100 years. The maturity is reached after around 10 years.
There are clear steps that must be followed for farmers if they want to get a high-quality product. These steps involve waiting for the fish to reach a certain age, which can be even more than 20 years in some cases. After that, monitoring fish to be sure that it is mature is crucial.
When it comes to the traditional method, the killing of the fish was part of the process. The great thing is that there is now a much more sustainable process where fish is injected with a special ingredient that forces it to spray the eggs from the body.
This is much more effective since you can harvest eggs from the same fish over and over again. When the eggs are ready, the next step is cleaning, and then salting. There are different colors and shapes, and that are used for categorizing. When the preparation is over, the producer will pasteurize the package and seal it.
Why Is the Price so High?
First of all, not all types of caviar are very expensive. You can find cans that cost less than 30 pounds for 50 grams. However, you have to know that these cheap products are not made from the same type of fish, but rather from certain sorts of salmon and trout. The traditional and well-known method includes the farming of sturgeon eggs.
As the sort of sturgeon gets more unique and of higher quality, the price will go up as well. For example, the one that is made of typical Siberian Osetra will cost you around 60 pounds for a can of 30 grams, while the price is much higher for premium sorts like Kaluga and Beluga, where you will have to spend more than 100 pounds for 30 grams package.
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The main reason why the price is so high is related to the challenging production process. First of all, harvesting is quite difficult since not all of the fish you catch will have the right age to lay eggs. Also, there is a limited time during the year when they are laying eggs in the first place.
When a farmer starts this business, it will take at least 10 years before the fish is ready. Also, there is a limited area where you can farm this fish in the right conditions, which is Siberia. Another reason is related to the unique taste that you cannot get from any other sort of fish.
Nutrition Values and Best Serving
This food is very healthy due to the high amount of vitamins D, A, B, and C. Also, there are other essential nutrients like Iron, Calcium, Magnesium, and more. It contains healthy fats and amino acids along with some nutrients. However, it is important to limit the serving since there are also high amounts of sodium and cholesterol.
That is the main reason why it is often served as a small portion that rarely contains more than 30 grams. It has a strong and unique taste. The best serving method is to be served as cold in a can over ice. You can add some lemon on the side. One of the most common types of serving is with bread and butter. You can add some seasoning over it, along with olives and boiled eggs.
Last Words
Source: caspianmonarque.com
In the end, we also have to mention the supply and demand, which is also one of the reasons for such a high price. It is considered one of the most luxurious food that you can serve, and its high popularity is also leading to a higher value.
You should learn more about the process of production and the different types of eggs that can be used for it. This will help you avoid the situation where you will pay much more money for caviar that is made of trout or salmon since these types are much cheaper.
