Caspian Oscietra v. Black Oscietra

“Black Oscietra” sounds like some dark Knight from Transylvania during the Dark Ages, but I do in fact refer to Oscietra from the Black Sea, or at least originally from the Black Sea.

I will explain. I recently went on a tasting tour which took me a long way east. So far east in fact, that I ended up in a place which still thought that it was part of the USSR, but that is another story. One of the most interesting aspects of the tasting visit was the fact that they had Oscietra broodstock which had originated from the Black Sea as well as some from the Caspian Sea. They produced Oscietra caviar from both. See the photo below.

Can you spot which is which? The colour is a good clue! Yes, the darker caviar comes from the Oscietra originating from the Black Sea, while the more brownie/yellow caviar is from Oscietra from Caspian broodstock. I am well aware of the differences between Oscietra caviars from different farms, but had never seen this difference before.

Which one tasted better? Again the clue is in the photograph as I am some one who reaches for a spoon before a camera. The one with the big hole in it was much the better of the two. Yes, Caspian Oscietra Caviar!