Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
Black River Imperial Oscietra Caviar
Imperial is the highest of the three Oscietra grades from Black River in Uruguay, a farm that raises nothing but Russian sturgeon and makes only about four tonnes of caviar a year. The firm 3 to 3.2mm pearls run from warm brown to pale grey and taste rich, buttery and gently nutty.
- Origin
- Uruguay
- Pearl
- Large
- Flavour
- Buttery, Nutty
- Delivered
- Chilled
About Black River Imperial Oscietra Caviar
Black River is widely regarded as the finest sturgeon farm in the Americas, and Imperial is the top of its three Oscietra grades. The farm was founded in the early 1990s as the first sturgeon farm in the southern hemisphere, using brood stock that originally came from the Caspian Sea, and it produces nothing but Oscietra.
The fish are raised in a remote, unspoilt corner of Uruguay. For their first four years they swim in netted enclosures in Lake Baygorria on the Rio Negro, before moving to raceway basins fed by around 50 million gallons of river water a day. Output is kept to roughly four tonnes of caviar a year, which tells you everything about the farm's priorities.
In the tin you get large, beautifully defined eggs of 3 to 3.2mm, ranging from warm brown through to pale grey. They are firm, they pop cleanly and the flavour is rich and buttery with the gentle nuttiness Oscietra is loved for.
At a glance
- Species: Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)
- Origin: Black River farm, Uruguay, CITES certified
- Grade: Imperial, the highest grade the farm produces
- Pearl: 3 to 3.2mm, brown to light grey, firm
- Flavour: rich, buttery, lightly nutty
Curious how it compares with our Italian Oscietra? Try the Uruguay v Italy Oscietra Twin Set.
Product details
- Caviar type
- Oscietra
- Species
- Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
- Origin
- Uruguay
- Pearl size
- Large
- Pearl colour
- Golden brown, Light grey
- Flavour
- Buttery, Nutty, Rich
- Brand
- Black River
- Dietary
- Gluten free, Dairy free, Pescatarian
- Storage
- Chilled
- Category
- Caviar
- Tin size
- 30g, 50g, 125g, 250g
Storage
- Chill on arrival at 0 to 4°C, towards the back of the fridge where the temperature is steadiest.
- Keep it sealed in its tin until the moment you serve.
- Once the lid is off, keep the tin refrigerated between servings and eat the caviar within 48 hours.
- Avoid freezing, which would soften these firm, well-defined eggs.
Serving
- Take it out roughly ten minutes before serving and rest the tin on crushed ice.
- Use a horn, glass or mother of pearl spoon rather than silver or steel.
- Try a little on its own first so you can feel the eggs pop cleanly.
- For something more substantial, serve it on a warm blini with a small spoonful of crème fraîche.
- A dry Champagne or very cold vodka suits its rich, buttery character.
Ingredients and allergens
Sturgeon roe (fish), salt, E285 (borax). Borax is a traditional caviar salt that helps preservation and rounds out the flavour. Contains fish.
Allergens are shown in bold. Recipes can change, so please always check the label on the product you receive.
Delivery and returns
We aim to process and dispatch the majority of your caviar orders same-day when placed before 3PM Monday to Thursday, and 92% of them will be delivered on the next working day.
Orders after 3PM on Thursday will likely be dispatched the following working day (usually Monday) so if you need your order urgently please do get in touch with us. We pack all orders with multiple ice packs to ensure they arrive fresh and chilled so don't worry if it takes an extra day to arrive.
Same-day delivery is available in some London areas.
Our caviar lasts for 3-6 months, but once opened should be consumed within 3-4 days.
Delivery Methods & Costs
The majority of our orders are delivered via Royal Mail's Tracked 24 service (up to the value of £250), with the rest going via DHL Domestic Express or Royal Mail Special Delivery.
- Orders up to £99 - £5
- Orders over £100 - FREE
Remote locations:
Deliveries to the Scottish Highlands, Northern Ireland, Islands and a few other remote locations can take up to 2-3 days to reach you. Please consider this before placing your order.
How much to buy
Which tin size?
Questions
Black River Imperial Oscietra Caviar: your questions answered
Anything else you would like to know? Our team is always happy to help.
What does Imperial mean on Oscietra caviar?
Black River produces three grades of Oscietra, and Imperial is the highest. It is chosen for the largest, best-defined eggs the farm produces.
Where is Black River caviar farmed?
In a remote corner of Uruguay. The sturgeon spend their first four years in netted enclosures in Lake Baygorria on the Rio Negro, then move to raceway basins fed by around 50 million gallons of river water a day.
How does Uruguayan Oscietra compare with Italian Oscietra?
Black River Imperial has larger eggs of 3 to 3.2mm with a firm, buttery character, while our Italian Oscietra is about 2.8mm, golden to tobacco brown and more mellow and nutty. The Oscietra Caviar Twin Set lets you taste both.
Is Black River Oscietra CITES certified?
Yes. It comes from Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) farmed in Uruguay and carries CITES certification.
