One of the great culinary pleasures known to mankind is cured sturgeon roe, known as caviar. Sturgeon are primitive fish that evolved some 250 million years ago. They still possess many of their prehistoric characteristics: soft cartilaginous skeletons, razor sharp bony plates on the outside skin, and toothless extended snouts. These shovel-like noses are equipped with feelers and vacuum-like mouths for rooting out food on the sea bottom.

Throughout the world, there are at least 50 different sturgeon. Three of the most traditionally coveted are Beluga, Osetra and Sevruga, which live in the Caspian and Black Seas. Another sturgeon from the South Caspian Sea is the Karaburun, or blacknose Asetra, whose caviar is available from Browne Trading Company as both Persicus and Imperial selections. This is the only sturgeon found in the wild that is not considered endangered due to the extensive restocking programs of the Iranian Ministry of Fisheries know as Shilat, and is often referred to as the "Persian Sturgeon".

Beluga, Huso Huso

Commonly weighing 80-400 lbs., this largest of the sturgeon can reach up to 2,000 lbs. Fifteen percent of its weight is roe, which is processed into caviar. Beluga caviar ranges in color from light grey to deep slate. Its delicate texture, rich creamy flavor, and distinctive large grains make it the most prized of all caviars. The harvest of Beluga sturgeon for their roes has been banned by the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and the famous Beluga caviar is currently unavailable for legal sale worldwide (as of 2006 decision by CITES).

Osetra, Acipenser Gueldenstaedti

These medium-sized sturgeon range in size from 40 to 160 lbs. They feed strictly on plants and small sea life which they "vacuum" from the sea floor with their suction cup mouths. Osetra (or "Asetra" when harvested off Southern Caspian shores) caviar is distinctive for its color, ranging from dark brown to golden, and for its unique nutty flavor. In late 2005, Browne Trading was pleased to introduce farm-raised Osetra to our customers. From cold water farms in Germany these fish have matured to the age where harvesting caviar is the sustainable resource. We market this caviar with our partner, Desietra, and it is a wonderful addition to our sustainable caviar line.

Black-nosed Asetra, Acipenser Persicus

This species lives exclusively in the south Caspian Sea. It is similar in size and length to the Russian osetra, with which it is closely related. It is also refered to as "Karaburun" - the Iranian fisherman's term describing its characteristic black nose. The Karaburun provides the caviar selections labeled by Browne Trading as "Imperial" and "Persicus".

Sevruga, Acipenser Stellatus

The smallest of the Caspian Sea sturgeon, sevruga, or "Stellate", rarely exceed 50 lbs. It has a pointed snout, and the most distinctive diamond-shaped plates. Sevruga caviar is grey in color, with small grains and a delicate, briny flavor.

To ensure that the commercial demand for sturgeon and their caviar does not threaten their survival in the wild, and to curtail the trade in illegally poached caviar, all sturgeon are protected by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES). This means that all imports of fresh caviar must pass inspection by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Their forensic laboratory has developed a method of positively identifying the caviar of different species and the country of origin. Valid CITES permits must correspond to actual physical contents of each shipment. All caviar purchased by Browne Trading are marked with a special code which refers to the original CITES permit for the caviar lot, as well as the date recommended as best consumed by.

Browne Trading Co. is also pleased to offer several wonderful sturgeon caviars that are being farm raised in France, Italy, Israel, the U.S. and Germany. These diligent aquafarming efforts have not only produced top-quality caviar, but also a sustainable solution for a critically endangered species. This process is a model for the world to follow, and is certainly the way that caviar will be produced in years to come. The sturgeon are born in captivity and are cared for up until the time that the caviar is processed, which in captivity can occur considerably quicker than in the wild. Being raised in a controlled lifecycle environment with regimented harvesting cycles at optimal times has resulted in a consistency of quality sought by caviar aficionados who are coming to appreciate these newly introduced farm raised caviars.

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