Caviar wasn’t always considered a delicacy.

In 1280, caviar was formally sanctioned by the Russian Orthodox Church as a food that could be consumed during religious fasts. This is during a time when the Church strictly governed the most minute aspects of all Russian life.

Back in the days of old, Russia was once the main producer of caviar, the icon of aristocratic elegance. Beginning in the 16th century, Russian caviar was harvested from wild caught sturgeon from the Caspian and Black seas, a tradition that eventually gave way to more sustainable aqua culture practices. 

Russian Caviar

After a series of export sanctions and restrictive quotas were levied in the early and mid-2000's, Russian caviar no longer dominates the global caviar industry. CITES temporarily banned imports on caviar from the Caspian and Black seas in 2006.  As a result, today, it's now likely that caviar from Russia is either fake or illegal. 

Due to closely monitored fishing restrictions and import sanctions, Russian caviar for sale is a thing of the past for most caviar lovers, especially now that superior quality roe is available from sustainable fish farms around the world. In fact, many chefs prefer farm raised sturgeon roe to Russian caviar because of its comparable taste to the finest sevruga and osetra caviars. These farms offer consistent, high grade caviars that do not come with the potential risk of a retroactive CITES violation.  As a result of overfishing, you can get high quality, reasonably priced, variety specific caviars from all over.

If you buy Russian caviar online, there are a few simple ways to ensure its authenticity and quality. First, make sure the container is vacuum-sealed. When you open the jar, there shouldn't be a layer of water or oil, which is a likely indicator of fake or substitute grade fish roe.

Learn About Caviar From Russia

The rarest and most expensive caviar comes from the beluga sturgeon, a native species of the Caspian Sea. Known for its soft texture and large pea-sized eggs, with color ranges from pale silver to black.  If you buy Russian caviar, another premium roe to try is osetra, which has a savory, buttery flavor with hints of fresh ocean air. Chefs also prefer this variety for its firm texture and medium sized tapioca pearls with a light brown to rich dark color. 

When the import ban on Russian caviar was partly lifted in 2008, Russia exported 3 tons of beluga, 17 tons of sevruga and 27 tons of osetra, which still falls 15% below the official quota. This international development combined with overfishing and destruction of spawning habitat has ushered in a new era of caviar production using sustainable aquaculture practices. If you buy Russian caviar online, expect a high price point compared to the more environmentally conscious alternative of farm-raised roe from other countries.

We also feature a selection of traditional compliments like blinis, the mini pancakes that hold the luxurious pearls of the ocean. For a classic caviar experience, add a dollop of crème fraiche to round out the flavors and complete the dish. Never serve caviar with a metal spoon; many contend that metal spoils the flavor. Instead, use Mother of Pearl spoons, which is preferred, and our recommendation.  Bone or glass spoons are a nice alternative as well.  Some will even suggest plastic before metal.

Shop Khavyar today and discover why our premium selection of imported and domestic roe is a top choice among executive chefs and gourmet caterers. Using our impeccable standards and decades of experience in the food industry, we've curated a spectacular collection of caviar from around the world for your pleasure and indulgence. This season, buy caviar online with ease in simplicity & confidence.  It is the perfectly decadent way to celebrate special occasions and holidays with your favorite dinner guests.