For years, there was Russian caviar for sale in the topmost global seafood markets. Both Russia and Iran have long harvested beluga sturgeon from the Caspian Sea, producing some of the world’s top caviar from the catch’s roe. However, the popularity of Russian and Iranian caviar put stress on beluga sturgeon populations, leading to overfishing and, eventually, classification as an endangered species.
Another popular type of Russian caviar is kaluga caviar. Kaluga sturgeon are found in the Amur River on the border of Russia. The caviar made from kaluga roe has earned the title “River Beluga” for its proximity to beluga’s taste, and it can be found in countries other than Russia.
In 1280, the Russian Orthodox Church allowed caviar to be eaten during fasts and, over time, caviar trended specifically toward food for wealthy fasting Russians. This shift partly explains Russian caviar’s reputation as a high-end delicacy, but its popularity can also be explained by its scarcity.
The Price of Caviar
| Company | # Types of Caviar | $/oz Range | Shipping | Order |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Global Seafoods | 16 | $50-$185 | $16.20 | |
| Lummi Island Wild | 3 | $59-$112 | $99+ Free | |
| Vital Choice | 3 | $59-$170 | $99+ Free |
Russian Caviar: Descriptions and Subtypes
What exactly sets the Russian caviar for sale apart from the rest? The beluga sturgeon produces some of the most sought-after roe for caviar. Russia produced incredibly popular caviar before the beluga sturgeon populations were overfished. The difference between Russian caviar for sale versus other types of caviar is, simply, quality. With current restrictions on Russian caviar, the market is leaning toward European and Asian caviar.
Customers who buy Russian caviar most often serve it plain, perhaps with a dollop of creme fraiche, on a serving spoon. It is also used sparingly on blinis, which are like a mini savory pancake. Sometimes, Russian caviar is served on thick toast with butter.
Beluga Caviar
Beluga caviar is soft in texture with large eggs, around the size of a pea. True beluga caviar is rare, both in availability and in flavor. It is difficult to find Russian caviar for sale outside of Russia.
Kaluga Caviar
Kaluga is a somewhat close match to beluga, but compares only as a stand-in for beluga, not a standalone. Its taste is earthy and kaluga eggs are a bit smaller than beluga eggs.
Russian Caviar: Prices and Restrictions
All the different names for Russian caviar can be confusing when trying to figure out price points. Does a hopeful customer search for Russian sturgeon caviar price? Russian caviar malossol price? Russian osetra caviar price? All of these terms (sturgeon, malossol, osetra) are, in the context of Russian caviar, pointing toward Russia’s most prominent type of caviar: Russian beluga caviar.
Russian beluga caviar price is at least $200 to $300 per ounce. There are no companies with Russian beluga caviar for sale in the United States, but customers might be able to find extremely expensive Russian caviar for sale online.
Russia has not been allowed to export any wild caviar since 2005 based on restrictions from the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) does not allow the import of any Russian caviar.
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