Albino Beluga Caviar: Rarity, Flavor, and What Makes It So Exclusive

Purebred caviar is one of the most revered food dishes around the world. Whether you get a succulent spoonful as an appetizer or a few eggs sprinkled on your dish, you know a meal is premium when it includes caviar. 

But what is Beluga caviar? And is it the same as albino caviar? We know everything there is to know about these two caviar delicacies, so keep reading to learn more. 

What is Beluga Caviar?

Beluga caviar is the name for the fish eggs that are produced by the Beluga sturgeon, which is primarily found in the Caspian Sea in the Middle East. Sometimes, this fish can appear in other seas, such as the Adriatic Sea, but it is rare. 

Beluga caviar comes in many colors, ranging from dark gray to light gray. The most highly sought after is the pearly white eggs laid by the female Albino sturgeon only after they reach 60 years of age. The albino coloring in these fish is caused by a genetic abnormality, and their population is nearing extinction. 

Beluga sturgeons can live as long as 60-100 years, with the older fish having the tastier roe. That being said, Belugas sturgeons don’t reach the age of maturity until about 20 years old, making them a difficult fish to farm. 

What is Albino Caviar?

Albino caviar is a word used to describe uniquely colored white caviar, which, most frequently, comes from an albino sturgeon. While there are several breeds of albino sturgeon, the most famous is the Iranian albino Beluga sturgeon, and the caviar this fish produces can also be called Almas caviar. 

Are Albino Caviar and Beluga Caviar The Same Thing?

In short, no, Albino and Beluga caviars are not the same thing. Beluga caviar is the word used to describe any roe produced by a Beluga sturgeon, regardless of color—and there are many varieties. 

Albino caviar, on the other hand, is used to describe any caviar that is white in color, frequently coming from an albino sturgeon. While there are types of Beluga caviar that are also albino caviar, the two terms are not mutually exclusive. 

Albino Beluga caviar is far more rare than regular Beluga caviar and is considered to be one of the most premium and rare varieties of caviar in the world. 

Why is Beluga Caviar So Expensive?

The Beluga sturgeon is currently critically endangered, meaning Beluga caviar is growing rarer and rarer. Albino Beluga sturgeons are even more rare, as the genetic abnormality which causes their albinism is quickly being bred out of the species. There are very few left in the wild, and the few that do exist swim in the Southern Caspian Sea, near Iran.

Unfortunately, the countries surrounding these waters where the fish reside have done little to lower the exploitation of these animals, increasing the rate of their extinction. The only exception is Iran, which adheres to preservation regulations when harvesting Beluga caviar. 

Additionally, unless you live in Iran, it is likely you will pay steep import fees to purchase albino Beluga caviar, further increasing the price. 

Is Beluga Caviar Illegal?

Currently, it is only legal to purchase will-caught Beluga caviar harvested in Iran, though Beluga caviar can legally be purchased from sturgeon farms worldwide. This is due to controversy surrounding the wild harvesting practices of other countries surrounding the Caspian Sea. 

In the United States, it was once completely illegal to import Beluga caviar, though that has changed in recent years. Sturgeon Aquafarms in Bascom, FL has been granted an exception, thanks to their conservation efforts for the species. They are allowed to farm the species as well as import and export Beluga caviar. If you are in the United States and want Beluga Caviar, you will need to buy it from a company that works with them. More on this later. 

Outside of the US, as mentioned above, there are sadly several countries that don’t adhere to the CITES outlined species preservation practices when harvesting wild sturgeon eggs, and they are as follows:

• Azerbaijan

• Bulgaria

• China

• Kazakhstan

• Romania

• Russia

• Serbia

• Montenegro

• Turkmenistan

• Ukraine

Because these countries do not adhere to international rules and regulations, they are banned and not permitted to sell wild-caught Beluga caviar—in an effort to hopefully dissuade these countries from wild harvesting and further harming the species. (Do note that farms are allowed in these countries!)

There was an exception to these regulations in 2007, which allowed these countries to export very small amounts of wild-caught Beluga caviar. After the exception, the policy once again changed to only allow farmed Beluga sturgeon caviar due to the damage caused by a single year exception. 

What is the Most Expensive Type of Caviar?

Albino Beluga caviar, sometimes called “Almas” is the most expensive variety of caviar in the world, costing over $20,000 for a single kilogram. Regular Beluga caviar is also expensive, often costing in the neighborhood of $7,000 per kilo. 

How to Serve Beluga Caviar

Albino Beluga caviar is certainly a treat, and as such, it should be served properly to ensure it is fully enjoyed by all parties. First and foremost, Beluga caviar should be served using a mother-of-pearl spoon. Using a metal spoon will add a metallic taste to the precious caviar. 

Beluga caviar should be served on its own or plain on a toast or latke, without any spreads, as you want to experience this delicacy fully. If you're going to serve anything else, such as cream fraiche or sour cream, these should be served as a palate cleanser only and should not be served on or with the caviar. 

Where to Buy Beluga Caviar

Whether you want purebred beluga caviar, golden albino caviar, or the less expensive beluga hybrid caviar, Kolikof Caviar and Gourmet has it all. They also have everything you need to turn your caviar order into a proper tasting event with caviar servers, spoons, and all the accompaniments you could ever dream.

Not sure what caviar you will enjoy? Try one of their caviar tasting sets this holiday season, a little gift to yourself of caviar!