Huso Huso Sturgeon
What is Beluga Caviar
from the sturgeon family “ Acipenseridae “.This species produces the best known caviar in the world called “ Beluga Caviar ”.They can be found primarily in the Caspian Sea basins. The Wild Sturgeon (Huso Huso) has been now listed as a critically endangered species by an International Trade organisation Convention called (CITES). Today Under this convention 80% of the world’s caviar market is farmed.
Prehistoric Beluga Sturgeons are known to be introduced by the Persians who were the first eaters of caviar. They called it Chav-Jar, which can be approximately translated into “Cake of Power”. They used to eat caviar to improve their stamina and believed that caviar cured a variety of diseases.
Appearance of Huso Huso sturgeon (Beluga Caviar)
Huso Huso Sturgeon or Beluga is a large and late-maturing fish which can live for over 100 years. The largest accepted record of poacher’s capture of female sturgeon lengthened about 7.2 m with a weight of 1,571 kg . The female Beluga sturgeon takes up to 20 years to mature and produce eggs.
This makes Beluga Caviar to be the rarest and therefore most expensive caviar in the whole universe. When it comes to taste of Caviar one experiences a gorgeous blend of rich fine grain with exquisite feel as well as fabulous buttery texture. The Huso Huso large roe are delicate in texture with colors ranging from light to dark grey and provide a rich, luxuriously tempered by a slight hint of hazelnut.
Nutritional value of Beluga Caviar
Beluga Caviar is enriched with over 45 minerals and nutrients. Eating Beluga caviar can have numerous health benefits. Firstly, it contains very high calories in terms of low intakes, for example one tablespoon of Beluga caviar which weighs around 15g contains at least 37kcal/15g of calorie, 3.9 g/15g of protein, and 2.2 g/15g of fat.
Secondly, this amount of Beluga caviar contains at least a gram of Omega-3 fatty acids along with large amounts of Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) and Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) which are known to support nervous system, immune system and circulatory system health. Due to these high amounts of Omega-3‘s, caviar consumption can be associated with preventing reducing the risk of cardiac death or heart disease , and has also been linked to alleviating symptoms of depression and bipolar disorder.
Beluga Sturgeon breeding method
Today Huso Huso is farmed by Iranians on the shores of the coast of Caspian Sea. Most Iranian’s aquaculture farms have tried to stimulate native environment which is close to the natural habitat of Beluga Sturgeons for farming and breeding. In the growing process when you avoid the use of any exotic sturgeon species, genotypes or various hybrids, which cause a dramatic loss of genetic integrity. Instead you will pay careful attention to using ethical and sustainable farming methods, especially when you work with highly skilled caviar masters, whose skills have been passed down from generation- to- generation.When the farmings include the know how of the natural habitat environment as well as the latest technology use, you should expect to achieve a very successful experience and result.
Beluga Sturgeon pricing and grading
Due to limited production and rare availability of Beluga Caviar, determining prices is subject to a number of factors, such as the size of the roe (the Beluga sturgeon’s eggs) which range from large to small and the color, which ranges from light to dark grey. In addition, sustainable and ethical farming methods guarantee a solid quality. The bigger the eggs, the best being the firmest at no less than 3.5mm in size, and lighter the color, the more expensive. Colors are specifically graded, with the lightest being 000 and the darkest being 0.