Beluga Hybrid

Beluga Hybrid profile
(Huso huso x Acipenser baerii)

Many producers began cross-breeding Beluga with other faster producing sturgeon species due to the scarcity of Beluga caviar and the complexity of farming the species. This product combines the size and flavor profile of Beluga with the speed of production of smaller Siberian sturgeon to provide an alternative to Beluga’s limited supply.

Product features include:

• Farmed-raised
• Italy
• Very large firm beads
• Brownish grey colored
• Smooth, silky texture
• A milder buttery note than traditional Beluga with a hint of the earthy and nutty tones of premium Siberian sturgeon
• Lingering buttery finish
• Excellent served alone, just on a mother of pearl spoon

Suggested use: This one-of-a-kind product will be in high demand among high-end restaurants, bars, and individuals. Any connection to original Beluga caviar, no matter how distant, will undoubtedly add exclusivity to any event, party, or menu of an exquisite restaurant, and will enhance any fine dining experience.

As trade in Beluga sturgeon caviar and meat has been prohibited in the United States for nearly a decade, reducing availability and sales of both products, Beluga caviar has been nearly impossible to obtain. However, since 2016 Sam’s Caviar sells domestic Beluga caviar from Sturgeon Aquafarms, the United States’ only Beluga farm. The Beluga Hybrid is already on the market at Sam’s Caviar.

What is Beluga caviar? This is a product that is unrivaled in the gourmet food industry for desirability and near-impossibility. One variety has been entered into the Guinness World Records books as the world’s most expensive food item, costing an incredible GBP 25,000 per kilogram. That is nearly $33,000 in today’s money! (We assure you that caviar prices at Sam’s Caviar are not exorbitant.)

Given the circumstances, the high price of Beluga caviar is easily explained. The Beluga (Huso Huso), also known as the “European Sturgeon,” is a critically endangered fish native to the Caspian Sea basin. Overfishing and poaching of Beluga in its natural habitat nearly led to extinction, prompting the US Fish and Wildlife Service to declare this species critically endangered and, as a result, prohibit the importation of Beluga sturgeon caviar from the Caspian Sea basin beginning in 2006. Following this, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) halted trade in Beluga caviar, allowing only very small quantities of this product to be sold on the international market.

One of the factors that contribute to higher caviar prices is the scarcity of the fish and its roe on the market. It rather compensates for the complexity of maintaining fish farms and manufacturing, without even hinting at any gastronomic vogue or exclusivity.

Despite its high price and scarcity, Beluga caviar is extremely flavorful. Cured roe of this fish is prized by knowledgeable gourmets for its distinct texture and flavor. The individual eggs of Beluga caviar have a firm envelope that is still delicate enough to burst with little pressure, releasing the buttery, nutty flavor of its fluids. The unusually large eggs of Beluga caviar range in color from light gray to dark gray and have a glossy finish. The processed product is graded based on its color: the lighter the nearly translucent envelope of the roe, the higher the grade and price.

The Beluga is a fish with a lot of personality that can be quite picky. It is the world’s largest freshwater fish, with only Kaluga, a close relative, in its range. This is a species that lives a long time, with the oldest recorded specimen living for 118 years. During their long lives, the fish can grow to be up to 7.2 meters long and weigh up to 1.5 tons. During the spawning season, up to a quarter of the female fish’s weight is made up of roe, the valuable material harvested to produce Beluga caviar. Older fish lay eggs that are larger, lighter in color, and more exquisitely flavorful.
Despite the import ban, we intend to provide our valued customers with an exclusive opportunity to purchase Beluga caviar and enjoy its exceptional flavor!

Sam’s Caviar Store will soon be able to offer Beluga caviar harvested from Sturgeon Aquafarms’ domestic Beluga. This is a innovative aquaculture facility in the small town of Bascom in northern Florida. Using the latest technology developed to raise commercially valuable fish and harvest their caviar, this facility can provide high-quality products to the market while putting no additional strain on wild fish populations. The Beluga, Sevruga, and Sterlet sturgeons grown there have a much better quality of life than they would have in their natural environment. Their ponds are filled with potable water, and they are fed a natural diet free of artificial additives and antibiotics. To ensure the highest quality of meat and caviar, the entire process is overseen by a staff with the highest level of professionalism and experience. Because of the enormous skill and care required to bring you this one-of-a-kind product, the price of our Beluga caviar will be high –but worth it.

We are honored to be regarded as reputable and dependable suppliers of Beluga caviar throughout the country. We have created gourmet food sets to allow even more customers to enjoy this delicacy. The price of caviar on our website includes crème fraîche and original Russian handmade blinis, which are the two best accompaniments to caviar.

So, how much does caviar cost today at Sam’s? To learn more, go to our Caviar page and click on the Beluga tab.
Without a doubt, you are already eager to try our product. For those who don’t want to wait, we already have Sam’s Beluga Hybrid (a cross-breed of Beluga and Siberian sturgeon), as well as the closest possible substitute – Kaluga caviar, also known as “River Beluga Caviar,” which you can always find at Sam’s Caviar for a lower price than Beluga caviar. We are confident that the fine flavor of this excellent product will astound you.

The largest fish in the sturgeon family is the Beluga (Huso huso). Beluga can reach a length of 24 feet, weigh 3460 lb , and live for up to 118 years. The IUCN Red List classifies it as a “critically endangered” species, and it is strictly protected by CITES. Despite all efforts by Caspian Sea countries, CITES, and the IUCN to preserve natural stock, the wild population of Beluga continues to decline. Its natural habitats are the Black, Caspian, and Azov Sea basins. Beluga is completely extinct from the Black sea and its basin. Male belugas reach maturity at the age of 10-15 years, while females reach maturity at the age of 15-18 years, and spawn every 3-4 years. The spawning season lasts from April to June. In the wild, beluga sturgeons eat small fish such as herring, gobies, roach, kilka, and others.