Browne Trading Company also has a long legacy as one the premier providers of the finest caviar in the United States. As the market for wild Caspian caviar became more and more restrictive due to the endangerment of overfishing of caviar producing sturgeon, Browne Trading was among the first in the U.S. who turned to resourcing aquacultured (or "farm-raised") caviars options. Our diligence and investment in forming relationships with producers from all over the world has led us to the forefront of this burgeoning industry.

We are now a leading supplier of the world's finest farm raised caviars, offering several varieties of the best quality aqua cultured caviars. These caviars are both an affordable and sustainable alternative to wild harvested roes. Each type of caviar is individually selected and graded to insure the satisfaction of our customers and is handled directly at our Portland facility. All our farm raised selections are freshly produced with low salt content (Malossol) and consistency of quality that is often not found in the wild.

Aquafarming efforts from around the Globe have not only produced top-quality caviar, but also have provided a sustainable alternative for demand upon the critically endangered wild sturgeon species - Beluga, Osetra and Sevruga. 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 Caviar (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. Offered as both "Classic" or as the highest grade "Royal" Selections.

Siberian Sturgeon Caviar (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 Siberian Caviar (U.S.) – These small-to-medium sized black pearls with a crisp, clean favor are raised under exacting attention by the only facility in the U.S. that raises the Siberian Sturgeon for caviar.

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. In 2008, we furthered our introduction of farm-raised Osetra with Caviar Galilee of Israel.

Browne Trading Osetra Caviar (Germany)– Aquaculturists in Germany were the first to raise the true "Russian Sturgeon" (acipenser gueldenstaedti) in captivity and produce genuine Osetra caviar. Light in color, with a traditional, nutty flavor and subtle "pop" in the mouth.

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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