Where Does Beluga Caviar Come From?

Beluga caviar is a rare culinary treat found in only a few locations on earth. By learning where this treat comes from, it is easy to see why the cost is prohibitive for most people.

Beluga Sturgeon

The female sturgeon can be as long as 30 feet and weigh over 2,000 pounds. Her eggs, or roe, are the legendary Beluga caviar.

Features

Beluga caviar harvested from a younger female is typically light to dark grey, sometimes appearing black. Caviar harvested from an older fish is the more rare, and more sought after, white caviar.

Geography

The Beluga sturgeon are primarily found in the Caspian Sea, which is surrounded by Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan. The other primary source of Beluga sturgeon is the Black Sea near Russia and Romania.

Considerations

Beluga caviar is so expensive because the Beluga sturgeon are endangered. Several nations prevent the import of this delicacy and the rarity has driven up the cost in those countries that do permit it.

Potential

While caviar is usually harvested from dead fish, but it is possible to harvest the caviar from live fish by performing cesarean sections to remove the roe or by a process known as striping. These techniques have the potential to make Beluga caviar more accessible.

References

• History of Caviar