Serious Eats / Julie BangWhile caviar (the salted, cured, unfertilized egg of a sturgeon) isn’t something people buy oodles of (unless perhaps you’re a restaurant serving caviar bumps), maybe you want to amp up the fanciness of a dinner party, and serving caviar (and some good wine) is one way to do it. But where can you get it? Not everyone has a specialty store or fishmonger nearby, after all.
Turns out that, like much stuff these days, you can buy it online. While we already have an article that dives deep into caviar’s nuances, we wanted to round up a few of the top online stores where you can buy an ounce (or two) of the briny stuff after you’ve done your research.
One thing to note: it ain’t cheap, but then again, that’s sort of the point.
A Few Tips for Buying Caviar OnlineLook For Sellers That Repack and Age Caviar ThemselvesSince caviar is an investment, you probably want to make sure you’re getting a quality product. “The number of caviar brands has proliferated exponentially over the last 10 years because it's as simple as taking a tin and putting a sticker on it,” says Chris Sherman, CEO of Island Creek Oysters in Duxbury, Massachusetts. He explains that at Island Creek Oyster, they actually re-package the caviar they buy (and age it), to ensure the product is up to par.
“So much of the quality has to do with how it's actually repacked from the original tins into the tins that you buy as a consumer,” he says. “That process is really critical and it takes years to perfect.” So,when you’re buying caviar online, if you can find a place that repacks and ages the caviar, that’s a good place to start. While this information isn’t always readily available, most reliable brands (including some in our list below) go this route.
Sturgeon Species (and Where the Caviar Comes From) Affects PriceSerious Eats / J. Kenji Lopez-AltAnother factor to consider when purchasing caviar is the breed of sturgeon and where it’s from.
Caviar from certain breeds, like osetra and Siberian, can be more expensive because it’s often imported from other countries, which adds to the price. When you’re shopping for caviar online, you’ll also probably notice a lack of one of the most famous breeds: beluga. Beluga sturgeon, which are native to the Caspian Sea, were fished to dangerously low populations (they are still critically endangered), leading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to ban Beluga caviar importation in 2005. The good news is that there’s great caviar being produced sustainably from other breeds of sturgeon (as well as a few select U.S.-based fisheries that raise Beluga and Beluga hybrids), and you can buy it online.
Sherman explains that when it comes to locally produced caviar, white sturgeon, which is native to California, is a great option. “The vast majority of North American production is white sturgeon. It's a really incredible product and because it's grown locally, it doesn't have to be shipped from overseas and imported,” he says. This often makes it less expensive than other (rarer) and imported varieties (since shipping and handling add to the cost). Flavor-wise, Sherman says white sturgeon has the typical briny, ocean taste of caviar, but is followed by a “buttery, creamy note,” and “parmesan cheese” flavor.
Make Sure the Caviar is from Sturgeon Serious Eats / J. Kenji Lopez-AltAnother thing to consider when you’re buying caviar is to make sure you are buying sturgeon caviar. Oftentimes other roes are sold under the banner of “caviar,” but only eggs from sturgeons are the real thing. “There's paddlefish roe and some people do market that as caviar even though it's not technically caviar. It's roe because caviar has to come from sturgeon,” says Sherman. While fish roe has its merits and tastes delicious, it’s not caviar.
When Picking a Tin, Consider Serving Size If it’s just you and your significant other, Sherman suggests going for a 30-gram tin, while a larger group warrants a 100- or 250-gram tin (for people who can’t get enough of the briny stuff). “If you're gonna just have a date night, 30 grams is perfectly sufficient,” he says. “If you're having a larger gathering, I think 100 grams or 250 grams is plenty for a group of six to eight people.” Also, it’s important to note that caviar is best served within a few days of opening the tin. Any longer, and it starts to degrade.
Where to Buy Caviar OnlineIsland Creek OystersWhile their brand has the word oyster in it, this Duxbury, Massachusetts-located monger sells more than just bivalves—they also sell tinned fish, lobster, and, pertinent to this article, caviar. Their caviar collection includes more affordable options, like white sturgeon caviar, which costs between $115 to $190 per 30-gram tin, and pricier picks like osetra which starts at $190 for 30 grams. They also offer so-called caviar flights if you want to do an at-home, side-by-side tasting (fun!), as well as caviar/oyster bundles (you could use the caviar as an ultra-luxe oyster topper).
Fulton Fish MarketWith an expansive range of frutti di mare in general, Fulton’s selection of caviar is similarly varied. They offer white sturgeon caviar, Osetra caviar, and more. You can also purchase a “domestic caviar assortment package” for $320, which includes a sampler of various locally produced varietals (though be warned: a good portion of the fish eggs included are not technically caviar, they are roe), as well as blini, creme fraiche, and a mother of pearl spoon for serving.
Regiis Ova CaviarThis fancy online store was founded by chef Thomas Keller and Shaoching Bishop, the former CEO of Sterling Caviar and Tsar Nicoulai Caviar. In addition to selling their caviar online, they also run the Regiis Ova Caviar and Champagne Lounge in Yountville, California, where you can eat caviar IRL in fancy digs, a glass of champagne in hand.
Marky’s Marky’s is one of the few caviar producers in the U.S. to sell Beluga caviar (their U.S.-based producer was granted an exception by the FDA for local production). As such, you can get a taste of this famous fish’s eggs—but you’ll pay a pretty penny for it, with a 28-gram tin starting at $830. If that’s too mind-boggling a number for you, they also offer other caviar at lower prices, like American white sturgeon caviar at $82 for a 28-gram tin.
Caviar RusseDespite its name, Caviar Russe doesn’t source its caviar from Russia. Instead, they’re based in New York City and offer a wide variety of caviar styles (including pressed caviar, which is more like a spread), most imported from sustainable fisheries in Germany. They also pack their caviar to order, which is a good sign of quality.
PetrossianFounded in 1920, French-brand Petrossian has long been a purveyor of fine food items, including caviar. Each caviar’s description notes the species, origin (many are imported), farming method, and shipping options. They even offer a Beluga-Sevruga hybrid sturgeon caviar, giving you a taste of this famed, briny roe.
FAQsWhat is sustainable caviar?Sustainable caviar refers to the process by which the sturgeon are raised. According to Chris Sherman, this usually refers to one of two types of production. “One is a closed system, a land-based aquaculture system where they're recirculating much of the water they use many times before it gets discharged,” he says. “And that's really ideal because it creates the least amount of effluent and waste.” The second production method is raising sturgeon in a river or waterway, which requires a little more finesse. “They create containment pens that divert water from the river,” says Sherman. They have to monitor the water going in and out of the pens and ensure that sturgeon don’t escape and breed with the local population; doing a proper job of this counts as sustainable fishery production.
Why is caviar so expensive?Caviar is pricey because sturgeon are rare, fisheries take a lot of labor to manage, they have to dispatch the fish when they harvest the eggs, and a lot of fisheries are in other countries, meaning a lot of caviar is imported. All of these factors add up to a pricey tin of fish eggs.
What is the difference between caviar and roe?All caviar is roe, but not all roe is caviar (confusing, right?). Basically, caviar is defined as the cured, unfertilized eggs of the sturgeon, while roe (which is also cured) can be from any fish. You can’t call salmon eggs caviar!
Is caviar actually fish eggs?Yes, caviar is the unfertilized fish eggs of the sturgeon fish.