A caviar tasting is one of the most memorable ways to entertain and it’s far simpler to host than you might think. By serving a few varieties side by side, you and your guests can discover how each sturgeon caviar differs in flavour, texture and finish. Here’s how to set one up at home this summer.
Choosing your caviars
Pick three or four varieties and taste them from lightest to richest, so the more delicate flavours aren’t overwhelmed:
- Aquitaine or Siberian: fresh and clean, the perfect starting point.
- Oscietra: nutty and buttery, developing a lobster-like sweetness.
- Kaluga: rich and full-bodied, with a refined, aromatic finish.
- Beluga: the “King of caviar”, to finish on a high.
Setting up
Serve each caviar well chilled, in its tin on crushed ice, with a separate mother-of-pearl spoon for each (metal can affect the flavour). Allow around 5–10g of each variety per guest. Keep palate cleansers neutral plain blinis, unsalted crackers or a little water so nothing masks the flavour.
How to taste
For each caviar, look at the colour and sheen of the pearls, breathe in the aroma, then press a small amount gently against the roof of your mouth to feel the pearls “pop”. Note the flavour and how long the finish lingers. For more on judging quality, see our guide on what to look for in good caviar.
Make it effortless: King’s Caviar Tasting Experience
If you’d rather have it curated for you, the King’s Caviar Tasting Experience pairs a hand-picked caviar selection with a guided tasting, the Epicurean tin brings together Beluga, Golden Oscietra, Platinum and Oscietra. It makes an ideal gift or centrepiece, and a portion of the proceeds supports the John King Brain Tumour Foundation.
FAQ: How much caviar per person for a tasting?
Around 5–10g of each variety per guest is plenty. a tasting is about comparing flavours, not large servings.
FAQ: What order should you taste caviar in?
Always work from the lightest, freshest caviar (such as Aquitaine) to the richest (such as Beluga), so the delicate varieties show at their best.
Related reading
- Things to Know About Caviar
- Caviar Pairing Guide: Recipes for Every Occasion
- Storing Your Caviar
- Understanding CITES and Caviar
- Why Caviar DNA Testing Matters
- The Tradition of Mother of Pearl and Caviar
King’s Fine Food donates 10% of all net profits to charity, with the majority going to the John King Brain Tumour Foundation, whose vision is to improve outcomes for adult and paediatric patients with brain diseases and disorders.
