Why Japanese caviar is about to shake up the luxury world
Miyazaki Caviar 1983 made its global debut in Hong Kong this month, and is ready to rival competitors in Russia and Iran – and even the UAE
You can count on Japan to aim for perfection. When it comes to dining, the nation has seduced the world with signature exports (such as sushi) while perfecting global favourites (such as whisky). It’s now extending its emphasis on excellence to caviar cultivation.
After four years on domestic gourmet menus, Japanese caviar made its global debut in Hong Kong last month. Can Japanese caviar give counterparts a run for their money? Here’s why it just might:
It’s world class
It takes up to eight years for sturgeon to produce caviar, but Japanese caviar was developed for almost 30 years before it was sold in Japan.
Miyazaki Caviar, the primary producer of Japanese caviar, sourced its first fish in 1983, and began experimenting with different species and breeding methods, intent on perfecting the farming and harvesting process before launching its product – titled Miyazaki Caviar 1983 – nationwide in 2013.
It’s made by perfectionists
The Miyazaki Prefecture’s mountain water has a year-round stable temperature that is ideal for sturgeon, but that’s not the only reason it’s set to become synonymous with quality caviar.
As an indication of Miyazaki Caviar’s meticulous methods, the company’s workers spend up to two hours ridding the eggs of any contaminants using tweezers.
Each batch of caviar is then scanned for radiation and contaminant metals, before being flash frozen to retain freshness.
It’s in great supply
Japan’s first caviar industry could produce 10 times its current capacity in the coming years.