Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
Oscietra Caviar
Our best selling Oscietra comes from a cold-water outdoor farm in northern Italy. Firm eggs of about 2.8mm shade from golden brown to dark tobacco, and the flavour is mellow and nutty with a finish that stays with you. It is versatile enough for blinis, scrambled eggs or a simple baked potato.
- Origin
- Italy
- Pearl
- Medium
- Flavour
- Nutty, Rich
- Delivered
- Chilled
About Oscietra Caviar
Ask a room of caviar lovers to name their favourite and Oscietra will come up more often than any other. This one, from a cold-water outdoor farm in northern Italy, has been a best seller since 2013 and still surprises seasoned connoisseurs who try it for the first time. For the money, we have not found a better Oscietra.
Oscietra (also spelt Osetra or Ossetra) comes from the Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, one of the three great Caspian species. It is farmed across Europe and beyond, yet the flavour changes remarkably from farm to farm. Here the firm eggs measure about 2.8mm and shade from rich golden brown to dark tobacco. The taste is mellow and nutty, with a finish that lingers on the palate long after the spoon is down.
At a glance
- Species: Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)
- Origin: farmed, northern Italy, CITES certified
- Pearl: about 2.8mm, golden brown to dark tobacco, firm
- Flavour: mellow, nutty, long finish
- The fish: matures at 10 to 12 years, yields 4 to 7kg of caviar
- Tins: 30g to 500g, so it works for a quiet supper or a large party
Oscietra stands up well to blinis and crème fraîche, and it is the caviar we reach for with scrambled eggs or a simple baked potato.
Product details
- Caviar type
- Oscietra
- Species
- Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
- Origin
- Italy
- Pearl size
- Medium
- Pearl colour
- Golden brown
- Flavour
- Nutty, Rich
- Dietary
- Gluten free, Dairy free, Pescatarian
- Storage
- Chilled
- Category
- Caviar
- Tin size
- 30g, 50g, 125g, 250g, 500g
Storage
- Store in the fridge straight away at 0 to 4°C, in the coldest part rather than the door.
- Keep the tin closed until serving; there is no need to decant it.
- Opened Oscietra should be eaten within 48 hours, with the lid pressed back on in the meantime.
- Do not freeze it, as the eggs turn soft and watery when thawed.
- With tins from 30g to 500g, choose a size you can finish within two days of opening.
Serving
- Allow ten minutes out of the fridge, then serve the tin on crushed ice.
- Reach for a mother of pearl or horn spoon, since metal can taint the flavour.
- The classic way is warm blinis topped with crème fraîche and a generous spoonful of caviar.
- For brunch, spoon it over softly scrambled eggs just before serving, never into the hot pan.
- Drink a dry Champagne at 7 to 9°C, or vodka poured straight from the freezer.
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
Oscietra Caviar: your questions answered
Anything else you would like to know? Our team is always happy to help.
Is there a difference between Oscietra, Osetra and Ossetra caviar?
No, they are simply different spellings of the same caviar. All come from the Russian sturgeon, Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, one of the three great Caspian species.
What does Oscietra caviar taste like?
This one is mellow and nutty with a long finish that lingers well after the spoon is down. The firm eggs hold up nicely on blinis and with eggs.
How long does caviar last once opened?
Once the tin is opened, keep it in the fridge at 0 to 4°C with the lid on and eat it within 48 hours.
What size tin of Oscietra should I buy?
The 30g tin (£42.30) suits a quiet supper for two, while the 125g to 500g tins are made for parties. Each Russian sturgeon takes 10 to 12 years to mature and yields only 4 to 7kg of caviar, so buy what you will finish within two days of opening.
