The greatest achievement in the caviar world occurred in the late 20th Century with the successful development of sturgeon aquaculture. While wild-caught sturgeon caviars are traditionally considered to have the finest flavor, ongoing developments in aquaculture have produced many farm-raised caviars of the highest quality, exhibiting consistent flavors and textures.

Browne Trading Company is excited to once again be a leader in sourcing and processing the finest quality aquacultured (or "farm-raised") caviars. This is a new technology and with many years of maturation required before harvest, farm raised sturgeon roe has only recently become available in marketable quantities. Rod and Cynde Mitchell have been traveling extensively to view caviar farms across Europe. We are now able to provide products from Italy, Germany, France, the U.S. and have recently introduced an Osetra caviar from Israel.

These diligent aquafarming efforts have not only produced top-quality caviar, but also have provided a sustainable alternative for demand upon the critically endangered wild sturgeon species. There are three sturgeon species that have adapted well to aquaculture and produce some of the finest farmed caviars available today on the global market: the Californian White Sturgeon, the "Siberian" sturgeon, and the Caspian Osetra.

Californian White Sturgeon Caviars (Acipenser Transmontanus)

Native to waters in California, the white sturgeon is an ancient species that can live in the wild up to 100 years, weigh over 400 kg and reach a maximum length of 6 metres. Most caviar-producing fish in captivity can bear eggs at 11 years of age, and range in size from 35 to 60 kg.

These cultivated white sturgeons produce large-grain roe much like the finest asetra. It is truly unforgettable, with a dark browne to black color and a rich, buttery, creamy flavor. Consistent and exquisite, the firm grain is large with an attractive, almost mirror-like sheen. The taste is light on saltiness (malossol), with nutty overtones and a pleasant, subtle finish.
We offer the following products:

American White Sturgeon Caviar (U.S.)
Raised in aquafarms in its native California, this domestic caviar's excellence is a product of diligent and sustainable farming practices. Rich, robust grains exhibit a creamy texture with a clean flavor.

Siberian Sturgeon Caviars (Acipenser Baerii)

While some caviar purveyors often mislabel their roe as being "Osetra", the Siberian sturgeon (Acipenser Baerii) is a separate species originally from Russian rivers, and is considered one of the most adaptable sturgeons to a farmed environment. The fish 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.

These cultivated Siberian sturgeons produce a variety of sized roe that are often compared to the finest wild sevruga caviars. These malassol (low salt) caviars are characterized by a dark charcoal grey color with an attractive, almost mirror-like sheen. The flavors are rich, nutty, and creamy. Browne Trading Company is proud to offer the following:

Desietra Baerii (Germany) – These medium sized black pearls with a crisp, clean favor are raised under exacting attention by German aquaculturist artisans.
Click here for a downloadable profile of this caviar! PDF (84kb)

Farmed Osetra Caviars (Acipenser Gueldenstaedti)

Long coveted by Russian Tsars, Osetra caviars are among the finest the world has to offer. Larger than the transmontanus and Siberian sturgeons, there was a growing demand to sustainably raise these fish, not only to protect then from the strain of wild harvest, but to offer a farm-raised caviar at a price point lower than costs commanded by wild Royal Osetra. In late 2005, Browne Trading was pleased to introduce the first 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. In 2008, we furthered our introduction of farm-raised Osetra with Caviar Galilee of Israel.

Desietra Osetra (Germany)– The Desietra facility in Germany has successful introduced the first true "Russian Sturgeon" (acipenser gueldenstaedti) to be cultivated for production of genuine Osetra caviar. Light in color, with a traditional, nutty flavor and subtle "pop" in the mouth.
Click here for a downloadable profile of this caviar! PDF (82kb)

Caviar Galillee Osetra Caviar (Israel)
Raised from wild Osetra broodstock from Russian, this caviar exhibits the same coveted qualities of wild harvested Royal Osetra: deep brown colors, firmness of texture, and the classic "nutty" flavor unique to the Osetra sturgeon.

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