Caviar can be a very polarizing food. On the one hand, it’s revered as luxury fare that people can’t seem to get enough of. On the other, it’s unique appearance and salty fish taste put a lot of people off. Frankly, caviar takes some getting used to. It certainly isn’t a food that makes a good first impression, but after taking three or four bites you’ll start to understand why folks love it so much. You might think caviar’s uniqueness stops at being expensive fish eggs, but it is so much more! Check out ten facts you likely didn’t know about caviar.
1.) It Has a Decent Shelf Life
Since caviar is essentially cured fish, it has a pretty good shelf life after it has been opened. If you can, try and store it in the coldest area of your refrigerator. If stored under the right conditions, caviar can stay fresh for upwards of a month.
2.) It Makes Noise
When fish eggs rub together they produce sound. Interesting, right? Caviar can vary in quality, but when good caviar is packed the sound it produces sounds quite similar to a purring cat.
3.) It is One of the World’s Oldest Delicacies
Caviar was running the show long before champagne and oysters were considered delicacies. Caviar was a popular food item amongst kings and aristocrats. Even the Ancient Greeks, Romans, and Russian tsars were known for indulging themselves in caviar’s wonders.
4.) Caviar Isn’t as Expensive as Everyone Thinks
While it certainly isn’t cheap, recent years have seen caviar prices decline as advancements in aquaculture make it both more affordable and available. Also, in the 19th century, the United States contributed to lower caviar prices upon discovering lake sturgeon to be rather abundant.
5.) Its Quality is Determined by Color, Flavor, Texture, and Maturity
The most expensive kind of caviars are older, larger eggs that have a lighter color. If the caviar is low quality, it will have a less intense fish flavor while being darker in color. Also, lower quality caviar tends to be younger. Going for a lower quality caviar is perfect for those new to the delicacy, since it is cheaper and milder.
6.) Among Connoisseurs, It’s Like Wine
Those who absolutely love caviar, or just have some money to throw around, typically seek out reserve caviar, which is the some of the rarest and most expensive caviar you can find. In the long distant past, many countries enacted laws that indicated the finest caviar must be reserved for the monarchy.
7.) It Can Be Sustainable
More than one of the 26 species of sturgeon are endangered, mostly due to some serious overfishing. However, a sustainable alternative is opting to go with white sturgeon and paddlefish roe farmed in the United States.
8.) Tobiko is Not Caviar
Those small red beads you often see in sushi are tobiko and not caviar. In some areas of the world, tobiko is considered similar to sturgeon caviar and often times is sold as caviar.
9.) It Was Used to Treat Depression
In the past, caviar was prescribed to help alleviate symptoms of depression. It’s not as bizarre as it sounds either since caviar is rich in omega-3’s. Recent studies demonstrate how high doses of omega-3 fatty acids can help lessen the impact of depression.
10.) It Can Be Put on All Sorts of Food
Traditionally, caviar is spread on top of blini, which are round puffy pancakes. In the past, however, Russians were known for spreading caviar on baked potatoes. These days, people are choosing to spread caviar on just about anything. From sandwiches to pizzas, seemingly any food is fair game for some caviar spread.
Unless you’re a caviar aficionado, you likely learned one or two new things about caviar while perusing this post. If you’ve tried it, but were hesitant to truly like it, perhaps you should try it again! Caviar isn’t the best at making a good first impression. Whether you’ve had it on several occasions or are interested in trying it for the first time, head on over to Mare Oyster Bar and indulge in our caviar service. We look forward to seeing you!