Kaluga

Kaluga Fusion Caviar profile
(Huso Dauricus x Acipenser Schrenkii)

Product characteristics:

• Farmed‐raised
• Hangzhou Lake
• Very firm, large individual beads
• Glossy grey color pearls, with golden highlights and hints of dark amber and olive green
• Mellow, rich, buttery taste
• Crisp finish
• Best served on a blini with crème fraiche or other accompaniments
• Drinks: champagne brute or dry white wine

Suggested use: Kaluga Hybridized sturgeon are farmed and raised in Qiandaohu Lake in an environment similar to their natural habitat, with clean drinking water. Due to its related genus, Kaluga Fusion (our trade name) caviar makes a great substitute for the lack of Beluga and should be recommended to those interested in purchasing something similar. The distinct savory flavor of this caviar, with hints of fruit and nut, will add a note of exclusivity and elegance to any table, making it an excellent addition to any high-end restaurant or bar’s menu. The best way to enjoy Kaluga caviar is with a blini and a bottle of dry white wine or champagne brut. Be conscious that Kaluga caviar is sold as River Beluga Caviar instead of Caspian Beluga Caviar. Kaluga caviar is illegal to bring into the United States as of September 2014.

Note: Hybrids of Kaluga Sturgeon and Amur Sturgeon (Acipenser Shrenkii) are incorrectly sold as Osetra caviar or as Royal Caviar. Because of the unique characteristics of this species, caviar from the cross-bred generation resembles Russian Osetra in color and appearance of the pearls, but the taste is quite different. Cross-breed caviar is very common in Europe and China, so be aware of the source of your caviar and ensure the species is listed on the CITES label.

The Sturgeon family is small, with only 27 species, only a few of which are well known. These few are highly valued for their precious and delectable roe, which is called caviar when processed.These species have become the most valuable commercial fish on the planet due to this, as well as their delicious flesh. Their preeminence, however, has been greatly to their disadvantage, as all of these valuable sturgeons have been endangered and, in some cases, driven nearly to extinction due to reckless poaching and overfishing.

The Kaluga, scientifically known as Huso dauricus, is one of the more well-known members of the family. This is a freshwater fish that lives in the Amur River basin in Siberia and Northern China. It has an elongated body with a triangular head and a short, pointed snout. It is nearly as large as its more well-known relative, the Beluga. The largest recorded specimen, caught in the Amur River in the late 19th century, was 5.6 m long and weighed more than 1,000 kg, with anecdotal evidence indicating the fish can grow even larger. It is often called the River Beluga because its life cycle is similar to that of the Beluga. While technically a freshwater fish, it spends a significant portion of its life in seawater, as does the Beluga. This fact has an impact on the notable characteristics of the so-called River Beluga caviar, which is the second most expensive after Beluga. Due to the long maturation period of the fish, kaluga sturgeon caviar is an expensive product. The species’ long-lived females begin spawning at the age of 16 and spawn every three to four years after that. Because Kaluga is an endangered species with strict export restrictions from Russia, Sam’s Caviar Store does not offer wild-caught products, even at near-unattainable prices. In today’s international gourmet market, aquafarms supply almost all of the Kaluga caviar, preferring to work with hybrids created by crossbreeding Kaluga with other sturgeon species.The resulting fish are smaller and less unruly than true Kaluga while preserving all of its most valuable characteristics. For your discerning tastes, we have three options:

Kaluga Fusion Amber Caviar

This richly amber-colored roe is produced by a cross between the Kaluga sturgeon (Huso dauricus) and the Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenkii), and it is distinguished by its large, firm individual fish eggs and its full and mellow buttery flavor.

Kaluga Fusion Gold Caviar

The traditional rich, creamy, and nutty flavor of the most beloved caviar is concentrated in our Kaluga Fusion Gold’s large, juicy, and firm beads, which range in color from pale umber to a warm, rich brown.

Kaluga Fusion Black Caviar

This caviar comes from a farm-raised hybrid of Kaluga (Huso dauricus) and Amur sturgeon (Acipenser schrenckii), a large breed that produces large beads with a pearlescent envelope ranging in color from light gray to nearly black. The flavor of this cross-breed is outstanding: buttery, creamy, and nutty, with the clean sea breath that gourmets prize.

Kaluga and Kaluga fusion caviar are recommended as a replacement for – and have a price comparable to – Beluga, which can no longer be imported into the US following the 2006 Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) ban due to its close association with Beluga and related life cycle. Sam’s is pleased to provide you with this high-quality option in three delectable flavors at our store.

Kaluga Sturgeon (Huso Dauricus). In the last 90 years, this species’ population has decreased by 80%, and it is still declining. The IUCN Red List classifies the Kaluga Sturgeon as a “critically endangered” species that is strictly protected by CITES. The Kaluga Sturgeon can grow to be 18.6 feet long and weigh up to 2.205 lb. This fish is the world’s biggest freshwater fish. Kaluga has a life expectancy of 80 years. Females are sexually mature between the ages of 14 and 23, and they spawn every 4-5 years. They have approximately 41,000 eggs per kilogram of body weight. Males mature sexually between the ages of 14 and 21 and spawn every 3 to 4 years. From May to July, they spawn. The Amur River basin is home to Kaluga sturgeons (Russian Federation & China). It is a fish that is semi-anadromous. Kaluga never enters the sea, preferring instead to live in the semi-salted waters of vast river mouths and spawning upstream in fresh water.

Kaluga can be found in a variety of benthic habitats in the Amur River basin’s vast rivers and lakes. Kaluga juveniles eat invertebrates for their first year before switching to small fish. From three to four years of age the diet consists mainly of adult fish. Cannibalism is also widespread.