Beluga, Osetra or Sterlet? A Guide to Choosing Your Caviar
Choosing caviar can feel overwhelming. The names sound similar, the tins look alike, and the differences only become clear once you taste them side by side. This guide walks through Admiral Caviar's six signature caviars, what makes each one distinctive, and how to choose the right one for you, whether it's your first tin or your fiftieth.
The six Admiral caviars at a glance
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Species: Huso huso
Pearl size: 3.2mm+
Color: Bright grey to dark silver
Flavor: Creamy, buttery, subtly nutty
Best for: Milestone celebrations -
Species: Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
Pearl size: 3.0mm+
Color: Light amber to yellow
Flavor: Delicate, buttery, clean
Best for: Those who prefer a refined, delicate taste -
Species: Acipenser gueldenstaedtii
Pearl size: Fine
Color: Dark olive to golden brown
Flavor: Nutty, with a lingering finish
Best for: Lovers of rich, nutty flavors -
Species: Acipenser baerii
Pearl size: 2.8mm+
Color: Black, brown and grey
Flavor: Sweet and nutty, with a hint of hazelnut
Best for: First-time tasters -
Pearl size: 3.0mm+
Color: Dark brown, light grey to yellow
Flavor: Balanced and delicate
Best for: Dinner parties and hosting -
Species: Acipenser ruthenus (Sterlet)
Pearl size: Small, fine
Color: Silver-grey to light ash
Flavor: Mild, buttery, refined
Best for: Those who prefer a mild, delicate caviar
Royal Beluga: the rarest of them all
Royal Beluga comes from the Beluga sturgeon, the largest of all sturgeon species and the slowest to mature in our range, taking more than 20 years. Its pearls are the largest in caviar, at 3.2mm and above, with a soft, glossy texture and a creamy, buttery flavor. Beluga is best enjoyed simply, so nothing competes with it.
Choose it for: milestone celebrations, and anyone who wants the ultimate caviar experience.
Imperial Osetra vs Russian Osetra
Both come from the same species, the Russian sturgeon, but they taste and look quite different.
Imperial Osetra is the lightest and most refined Osetra in our range. Its large amber pearls give a gentle pop, followed by a delicate, buttery flavor with a long, clean finish. In the caviar trade, "Imperial" generally refers to Osetra selected for its lighter color and larger pearls.
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Russian Osetra is the classic. Its fine pearls range from dark olive to golden brown, with the nutty flavor Osetra is known for and an aftertaste that lingers on the palate. One common question: Russian Osetra is named after its species, not necessarily the country where it's farmed.
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Choose Imperial if you prefer delicate and buttery. Choose Russian if you love a richer, nuttier taste.
Siberian Osetra: the perfect introduction
Siberian Osetra comes from the Siberian sturgeon, a different species from the Russian sturgeon behind our other Osetras. Its dark pearls have a sweet, nutty flavor with a hint of hazelnut, milder and more approachable than Russian Osetra.
Choose it for: a first caviar tasting, or an everyday indulgence.
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The Classic Unique: versatile and balanced
The Classic Unique has firm pearls of 3mm and above, ranging from dark brown and light grey to yellow, with a balanced, delicate flavor. It works just as well on its own as with blinis and crème fraîche, which makes it a natural choice for hosting.
Choose it for: dinner parties and serving guests with different tastes.
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Premium Unique: small pearls, refined taste
Premium Unique is a Sterlet caviar, a variety historically served at imperial courts. Its small, uniform pearls range from silver-grey to light ash, with a mild, clean flavor and soft buttery notes. Because the Sterlet is a small sturgeon with a low roe yield, this caviar is naturally rare.
Choose it for: anyone who prefers a mild, delicate caviar.
Shop Premium Unique →
Which caviar should you choose?
New to caviar? Start with Siberian Osetra or Premium Unique for a mild, clean flavor.
Love nutty flavors? Choose Russian Osetra.
Prefer delicate and buttery? Choose Imperial Osetra.
Hosting a dinner? The Classic Unique pleases a wide range of tastes.
Celebrating something special? Royal Beluga.
Still can't decide? The Discovery Trio lets you taste three of our signature caviars in 30g tins, side by side.
How to serve caviar
Whichever you choose, a few simple rules bring out the best in it:
Serve it well chilled. Keep the tin refrigerated until just before serving.
Use a mother-of-pearl spoon. Metal can leave a metallic taste. Mother-of-pearl keeps the flavor pure.
Taste it on its own first, then on a blini with a little crème fraîche.
When tasting several caviars, go from mildest to boldest so each one gets its moment.
Buying caviar in Dubai
All Admiral caviars are available online in tins from 30g to 500g, with prices that include VAT. Delivery is free in Dubai on orders of 100g and above, and we also deliver across the UAE and to Riyadh, Kuwait City and Qatar.
