Huso huso x Acipenser baerii
Royal Beluga Caviar
A Beluga and Siberian sturgeon hybrid raised on a spring-fed farm in northern Italy, giving you the size and creaminess of Beluga at a far kinder price. The glossy pearls are about 3mm, dark grey and buttery, with a long, clean finish. It is our usual recommendation for a first tin of Beluga.
- Origin
- Italy
- Pearl
- Large
- Flavour
- Creamy, Mild
- Delivered
- Chilled
About Royal Beluga Caviar
If you want the size and creaminess of Beluga caviar without paying pure Huso Huso prices, this is the tin to buy. Royal Beluga comes from a hybrid of the Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) and the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), raised on a spring-fed outdoor farm in northern Italy where water quality, feed and processing are watched with real care.
The hybrid matures around ten years sooner than a pure Beluga, which keeps the price sensible, and the Siberian side of the family gives the eggs a little more backbone. Expect large, glossy, dark grey pearls of roughly 3mm that roll easily on the tongue, a soft creamy texture and a long, clean finish. It has been one of the most popular caviars in the UK since it was first introduced in 2013, and it is the one we recommend to anyone buying Beluga for the first time.
At a glance
- Species: Beluga x Siberian hybrid (Huso huso x Acipenser baerii)
- Origin: farmed, northern Italy, CITES certified
- Pearl: about 3mm, dark grey, firm and glossy
- Flavour: creamy and buttery with a slightly fuller body than pure Beluga
- Style: malossol, lightly salted
- Tins: 30g for one or two, 50g for two to three, 125g to 500g for entertaining
Serve it simply on warm blinis with a little crème fraîche, on buttered toast, or straight from the spoon with ice-cold vodka or a dry Champagne.
Product details
- Caviar type
- Beluga
- Species
- Huso huso x Acipenser baerii
- Origin
- Italy
- Pearl size
- Large
- Pearl colour
- Dark grey
- Flavour
- Creamy, Mild
- Dietary
- Gluten free, Dairy free, Pescatarian
- Storage
- Chilled
- Category
- Caviar
- Tin size
- 30g, 50g, 125g, 250g, 500g
Storage
- Put the tin in the fridge as soon as it arrives, in the coldest part at 0 to 4°C.
- Leave the lid sealed until you are ready to serve.
- Once opened, press the lid back on firmly and finish the caviar within 48 hours.
- Do not freeze it, as freezing damages the delicate eggs and spoils the creamy texture.
- Open the larger 250g and 500g tins on the day of your party rather than in advance.
Serving
- Take the tin out of the fridge about ten minutes before serving and set it on a bed of crushed ice.
- Use a mother of pearl, horn or glass spoon, as metal can leave a faint tinny note on the eggs.
- Allow a 30g tin for one or two people, or 50g for two to three.
- Spoon it onto warm blinis with a little crème fraîche, or onto hot buttered toast.
- Pour ice-cold vodka straight from the freezer, or a dry Champagne at 7 to 9°C.
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
Royal Beluga Caviar: your questions answered
Anything else you would like to know? Our team is always happy to help.
Is Royal Beluga real Beluga caviar?
It is a hybrid of the Beluga sturgeon (Huso huso) and the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser baerii), farmed in northern Italy and CITES certified. The hybrid matures around ten years sooner than pure Beluga, which keeps the price sensible while giving you the large, creamy pearls Beluga is known for.
Why is this Beluga from Italy and not Russia?
Beluga made its name in the Caspian Sea, but the wild Beluga sturgeon is now critically endangered and the trade in wild Caspian caviar has effectively ended, so all Beluga sold legally today is farmed. Italy is one of Europe's largest caviar producers, and Royal Beluga comes from a spring-fed outdoor farm in the north of the country. What matters for quality is the species, the farm and the care taken over harvesting and salting, rather than the flag.
How much Beluga caviar do I need per person?
Our 30g tin suits one or two people and the 50g tin two to three. For entertaining, the 125g, 250g and 500g tins give you enough for generous canapés.
What is the difference between Royal Beluga and pure Beluga caviar?
Royal Beluga has dark grey eggs of about 3mm with a slightly fuller, more robust body. Our Special Reserve pure Huso huso has larger, paler eggs and a more delicate, walnut-tinged flavour. The Beluga Caviar Twin Taster Set lets you compare the two.
Is Royal Beluga caviar gluten free?
Yes. It contains only sturgeon roe, salt and borax, so it is gluten free and dairy free. It does contain fish.
