California White Sturgeon Caviar – True Osetra?

California White sturgeon caviar has a similar flavor as Russian Sturgeon caviar. However, true Osetra caviar is produced exclusively by the Russian sturgeon:

Ossetra (also Osetra, Oscetra) caviar refers specifically to the roe of Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii), referred to as the Perisan sturgeon (Acipenser persicus) in some regions (N. Fletcher, Caviar, Reaction Books Ltd. 2010).

White sturgeon caviar comes from Acipenser transmontanous. White Sturgeon are found in 3 major drainages on the west coast of North America including the Sacramento (in California), Columbia (in British Columbia, Idaho and Washington) and Fraser systems.

Osetra (Ossetra, Asetra. Osceitra) caviar comes from Russian sturgeon, originally abundant in the Caspian Sea. The word Osetra literally translates to “sturgeon” in Russian. Now critically endangered, the only sustainable source of this coveted sturgeon is U.S. aquaculture.

California White sturgeon caviar is a great alternative to the pricier Russian sturgeon and Beluga caviars. Farmed U.S. sturgeon is a “Best” choice by the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.