Celebrate Caviar Day with 9 fascinating facts about these heavenly ‘black pearls’
Eggs from only three types of sturgeon – beluga, osetra and sevruga – can be called caviar
In celebration of National Caviar Day in the United States today, here are some interesting facts about these “black pearls”.
1. The most expensive food in the world is Almas caviar from the Iranian Beluga fish. Known as “black gold” it regularly sells for around £20,000 (US$26,420) per kilogram, according to Guinness World Records.
2. Almas are eggs from rare albino sturgeon that are 60 to 100 years old.
3. The traditional way to eat caviar is on a skin between the index finger and the thumb. If that is not suitable, caviar tastes better from a spoon made from bone, crystal or mother-of-pearl, as metal spoons can alter the taste. The eggs should be rolled slowly around the mouth until they pop and release flavour.
4. Although caviar is a symbol of opulence and affluence – and historically the food of kings – the lack of concerns over overfishing in the early 1900s meant there was an abundance of it in the US. At that time, it was often offered as a free snack with beer in bars around the world. It was usually the cheaper, saltier types of caviar that were served as the salt made drinkers thirstier and encouraged people to drink more.
