Many consider caviar to be one of the fanciest foods. Its unique texture and delicate flavor instantly amplify any dish to which it’s added. Such a quality food item comes with a high price tag. However, there are considerable differences in price between different kinds of caviar. Why is there this difference in price? We want to help you understand why some kinds of caviar are so pricey and what affects caviar’s price. Knowing what goes into determining caviar price per pound will make you a better consumer with more caviar know-how.

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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

 

What Goes into Caviar Pricing?

There are five main factors that determine the caviar price per pound. They all relate to each other, but we will go through each individually.

The first main price factor is the species of fish. Traditionally, caviar refers to the roe from sturgeon family fish. This means that other fish eggs are simply referred to as roe. Sturgeon caviar is more expensive than other fish roe because of the scarcity of this fish variety. Cultivators farming the fish have limited space and wild populations are fleeting. Additionally, Osetra caviar price per pound is more than other sturgeon caviar.

Another reason caviar price per ounce is expensive is that sturgeon caviar takes a long time to mature and be ready to harvest. Sturgeon take anywhere from 7 to 10 years to mature. This is much longer than fish like salmon which take about 2 years. Similar to wine, caviar must age and reach a point where the texture and flavor is correct. Because of this lengthy process, caviar costs more.

Once the sturgeon does age enough, the harvesting process is very tedious and must be done by hand. This, too, factors into the price. Unfortunately, the fish does not live after the harvesting. Although a no-kill method is on the table, it is not the common way. The person processing the eggs carefully removes them from the fish and gently cleans the roe. The careful attention these steps take make it hard to produce a lot of caviar for sale consistently.

The next reason why the price of caviar varies is because of the different grades. Caviar Star explains that caviar sellers have a number system they use to grade the eggs on various measures. Higher grade caviar cost more because they are larger and have a nice color.

A final influence on caviar price per pound is the classic supply and demand. For a long time, there has always been high demand for caviar. This high demand and a limited supply makes for a high price. This trend will keep up as long as people still have a taste for caviar and are willing to pay.

Pink Salmon Caviar Prices

Company Minimum Order Price/oz Shipping Order
Global Seafoods 17oz $60.24 $12.95
Vital Choice 35oz $170 $16.20

Coho Salmon Caviar Prices

Company Minimum Order Price/oz Shipping Order
Global Seafoods 35oz $170 $16.20
Lummi Island Wild 7oz $89.14 $45.00

Caviar Price Per Pound Overview

Caviar typically sells in containers of increasing grams or ounces. Prices change on several factors, so you might see caviar for a lesser price or more expensive than these estimates. The average price of caviar per gram is around $4 to $6. But, keep in mind that the smallest container would be about 30 grams. Osetra caviar price per ounce spans anywhere from $100 to $200. You can expect a 100g caviar price to be around $560. The caviar 100g price is nothing compared to the caviar 1kg price. The price of caviar per kilo for a caviar like Osetra is over $5600.

The prices of caviar are certainly high. However, now you can view them knowing what goes into producing the delicacy. It is also important to note that there is no guarantee that the most expensive caviar is caviar that you would like. The price tag reflects the process more than it does the taste.

Chum Salmon Caviar Prices

Company Minimum Order Price/oz Shipping Order
Global Seafoods 35oz $155 $16.20
Lummi Island Wild 7oz $112 $45.00

King Salmon Caviar Prices

Company Minimum Order Price/oz Shipping Order
Global Seafoods 35oz $145 $16.20
Lummi Island Wild 7oz $89.14 $45.00

 

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