Sterlet

Sterlet Caviar profile
(Acipenser Ruthenus)

Product Characteristics:

• Farmed-raised
• Germany & Sturgeon AquaFarms, Florida, USA
• Very small, delicate beads
• Light grey to dark grey color pearls, hints of silver
• Smooth, velvety texture
• Mild sweet and nutty flavor
• Lingering buttery finish
• Excellent served alone, just on a mother of pearl spoon
• Available in 2014 -2015 from SAF

Suggested use: Sterlet is similar in color and flavor to Sevruga caviar, but the size of the eggs is much smaller, which explains its smoother, more velvety texture and lingering buttery finish. Sterlet caviar is rarely available in the United States, so it will undoubtedly add exclusivity and variety to the menu of any high-end restaurant. Sterlet is another option for Sevruga caviar.

Note: The most common substitute for prized Caspian Sevruga caviar is sterlet caviar. Be extremely cautious of advertisements for golden Sevruga or Farmed Sevruga (species Acipenser Ruthenus). Sevruga, on the other hand, will never produce golden eggs, so advertised golden sevruga is more likely to be Sterlet. Also, pay attention on the egg size – sterlet eggs are no larger than 0.5 to 1 mm in diameter, whereas sevruga eggs are 1.2-2 mm in diameter. Sterlet caviar has a buttery texture, so it won’t pop in your mouth and you won’t be able to feel the separation of the egg grains.

The Sturgeon family is relatively large, and the majority of its members supply true black caviar to the global market. Sterlet (Acipenser Ruthenus) is one of them, and its natural habitat includes rivers that flow into the Black Sea, the Azov Sea, the Caspian Sea, and the Aegean Sea, as well as rivers in Siberia as far east as Yenisey. The natural population of Sterlet has critically declined as a result of increasing industrial pollution of the waters, dams, and, of course, overfishing and poaching for its caviar, flesh, and isinglass, and this species is now considered threatened and on the verge of extinction. As a result, nearly all of the Sterlet caviar sold in the international gourmet food market is harvested and produced on aquafarms located around the world. Despite some difficulties in breeding Sterlet, one of the benefits of aquafarm production is the ability to control the fish’s diet, because the fish’s daily food ration in the wild nature significantly influences the taste of the caviar Sterlet and its flesh. In this manner, we can be assured of receiving a product of consistent high quality and predictable flavor. Sterlet feeds on crustaceans, insect larvae, and worms in the wild, and it receives a similar diet in artificial ponds to maintain its famously rich and original flavor.

Sterlet sturgeon is one of the world’s tiniest sturgeons. Adult specimens grow to be 100-120cm long and weigh less than 16kg, which is way smaller that the giant sturgeons like Beluga, Kaluga, and even Osetra. Sterlet’s small size predetermines its relatively short life, but it also explains why it matures quicker, making it more convenient and effective in farming. Males mature after 3 to 12 years, while females mature after 4 to 7 years. The fish’s small size also reflects the size of its eggs.
Sterlet caviar beads, like Sevruga caviar, are nearly the smallest in the American sturgeon caviar family, but despite their diminutive size, they are among the most flavorful in the sturgeon family. To be honest, these two caviars are frequently confused due to their similarity in size and appearance, but Sterlet caviar has a more noble appearance with its nearly black to gray pearlescent look.

Unfortunately, Sterlet caviar does not come in a wide variety of different kinds and sorts, but it is one of them. The small eggs are dark gray to nearly black in color with deep blue hues, and the pearlescent envelope conceals the contents’ juicy and creamy texture with pronounced rich and bright nutty flavor.

Sterlet caviar is a true bargain in terms of price-to-quality rate! But our Sterlet caviar set, which includes our fresh Sam’s Sterlet Caviar in a 2 oz. jar, as well as a 36-piece pack of Russian Original Handmade Blini and a 7-8 oz. pack of Crème Fraîche, makes for a fantastic cocktail party or a nice family dinner.

The smallest sturegon in the Caspian Sea basin is Sterlet (Acipenser Ruthenus). In Western Europe, the sterlet is the most common and abundant sturgeon. Freshwater rivers that flow into the Caspian and Black Seas are its natural habitats. The sterlet is protected by CITES and is listed as “vulnerable” on the IUSN Red List of endangered species. The population is decreasing. Since sterlet is prized for its meat, it has been overfished for decades, placing the species on the verge of extinction. Sterlet seldom grow to be more than 3 feet long and weigh more than 35 lb. Females reach sexual maturity between the ages of 4 and 12, while males reach sexual maturity between the ages of 3 and 7. Sterlet has a life expectancy of 22 years. Females usually bear between 15,000 and 45,000 eggs. Insects, eggs, and small benthic species make up the Sterlet’s natural diet.