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Long considered one of the most luxurious foods in the world, caviar can now be delivered directly to your doorstep, bringing a fine dining experience to your home.
Since most wild sturgeon species around the globe are depleted or critically endangered due to a long history of high caviar demand, farm-raised sturgeon is the most sustainable option available in the U.S. market. We have selected the best caviar delivery services offering a mix of imported and domestic caviar that is sustainably sourced and available for delivery nationwide.
Best Caviar Delivery Services of 2023
- Best Overall: Browne Trading Company
- Best for Premium: Petrossian
- Best for American Caviar: Tsar Nicoulai
- Best for Variety: Goldbelly
Best Overall : Browne Trading Company
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Browne Trading Company
Why We Chose It: Browne Trading Company is a U.S.-based outfit that co-brands with producers of caviar around the world.
Mix of approachable and premium caviar
Free shipping on orders of $150 or more
Supplemental educational resources and tips
Variety of imported and American caviar
High shipping costs for small orders
Browne Trading Company is based in Portland, Maine, and distributes a variety of seafood and seafood products, including an extensive selection of caviar and roe. Browne Trading is the only company in the United States that co-brands with international caviar producers and works closely with sturgeon farms to get a top-quality product that is then hand-packed and stored in its Maine facility. Each partner farm is profiled as part of each caviar's description, which includes full transparency on how it has been sustainably sourced and harvested. All the caviar is consistently graded on “taste, texture, and tone” by Browne Trading’s own caviar expert.
Imported caviar includes Osetra Sturgeon, Siberian Sturgeon, Hybrid Sturgeon, American White Sturgeon, and Beluga Hybrid Caviar. Whether you are a caviar connoisseur or newbie, there is a selection for you across all price ranges. If you are new to eating this delicacy, check out the Expert Guide to Caviar section of the company's website and the caviar guide for tips on serving and storing caviar. And if you need a way to serve your caviar and something to serve with it, Browne Trading has you covered with an array of serviceware and accompaniments. All orders are shipped via UPS Next Day Air or shipped the day before a pre-selected delivery date. For those who like to enjoy caviar for more than just special occasions, Brown Trading has a Caviar Club Subscription for $250 per month.
Best for Premium : Petrossian
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Petrossian
Why We Chose It: Petrossian has been in business selling the world’s finest caviar for more than a century.
Long company history
Caviar concierge service
Sustainable sourcing
User friendly caviar guide and descriptive tasting notes
Starts at high price point
No free shipping
Petrossian has been in the caviar business since 1920, born out of a small, family-owned boutique in Paris (which is still in operation). Over 100 years later, Petrossian has remained a family-owned business, owning and operating restaurants and boutiques in Paris, New York City, and Los Angeles. Petrossian prides itself on its rigorous standards of quality and attention to detail, curating the finest caviar from around the world and maturing these select batches into a superior grade of caviar. The Petrossian family continues to taste and test the caviar personally.
All caviar available today is sustainably sourced from farmed sturgeon. Petrossian is unique in that it matures its caviar over four to six months to its peak potential. According to the company, this aging process allows the caviar “to gain greater texture, more nuanced flavor profiles and extend the potency of their finish.” Petrossian offers seven different types of caviar across five different grades. Sizes range from 30 grams (approximately 1 ounce) to 1 kilogram. Pricing starts at $62 for 30 grams of Classic Baika Caviar. If you need some guidance in selecting a caviar, refer to the company's Caviar Concierge program.
Best for American Caviar : Tsar Nicoulai
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Tsar Nicoulai Caviar
Why We Chose It: California-based Tsar Nicoulai spawns, raises, and harvests sustainable American white sturgeon caviar.
Green “Best Choice" rating by Monterey Bay Aquarium
Unique use of aquaponics
Variety of grades and sizes
High shipping costs for small orders
Based in California, Tsar Nicoulai has been farming caviar since 1984 and is the only Ecocert eco-certified sturgeon farm in the U.S. Its use of solar, aquaponic, and closed loop farming has earned it a Green “Best Choice” rating by the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch program. The unique aquaponics filtration system even allows the farm to grow organic greens powered by sturgeon byproduct—the first sturgeon farm in the world to achieve this. The farm is home to different stages of sturgeon, all spawned in its own hatchery, fed a non-GMO diet, and never given growth hormones or antibiotics. Tsar Nicoulai is also the only U.S. sturgeon farm with an on-site smokehouse, where it can smoke the fish meat after the caviar is harvested as part of its zero waste model.
Tsar Nicoulai sells six different grades of caviar from American white sturgeon, all available in sizes ranging from a 0.5-ounce jar to a 1-kilogram tin. In addition to caviar, Tsar Nicoulai sources roe from wild U.S. whitefish, Marine Stewardship Council-certified wild Alaskan salmon, and trout roe, along with flavored varieties such as Beet & Saffron Whitefish roe, Truffled Whitefish, and Wasabi Whitefish roe. All products are shipped in eco-friendly packaging via FedEx Priority Overnight to ensure the caviar arrives cold. Free shipping is included on all orders over $100.
Best for Variety : Goldbelly
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Goldbelly
SPRUCE15 for $15 off of minimum $50 spend, first time customers only, excludes shipping, standard T&C applies.
Why We Chose It: Online marketplace Goldbelly offers the opportunity to try caviar from multiple vendors.
Variety of vendors
Free shipping available on most orders
Excellent customer reviews and customer service
Mix of both American and imported caviar
Sourcing practices will vary depending on the vendor
Goldbelly is an online marketplace offering a variety of gourmet foods from restaurants, vendors, and artisans around the country. Its domestic and imported caviar offerings include Regiis Ova Caviar by renowned chef Thomas Keller, caviar gift sets from New York deli Eli Zabar, Osetra from Sable’s, and a variety of American and Osetra caviar from the legendary Russ & Daughters. In addition to caviar, Goldbelly offers an assortment of other fish roe products, such as salmon roe, trout roe, and wasabi-infused flying fish roe.
The vendors on the Goldbelly site sell gift packages that include blinis, creme fraiche, and a mother of pearl spoon, along with the option to build a trio of caviar of your choice from Regiis Ova Caviar by Thomas Keller. Caviar serving sets are also available for sale. Caviar is sold in a variety of sizes from 30 grams to 1 kilogram, depending on the vendor. Free overnight shipping is included on the majority of orders.
Final Verdict
Numerous high-quality caviar vendors offer home delivery. For those seeking top-of-the-line imported caviar, Petrossian has a unique company history and promises to deliver the true luxury associated with caviar. Goldbelly is a great option for those interested in gift sets or purchasing from a variety of different vendors. Tsar Nicoulai stands out for its highly sustainable farming practices of American white sturgeon. And Browne Trading Company is our pick for best overall given its extensive variety of exceptional domestic and imported caviar and its educational resources on selecting caviar.
Compare Providers
Company Name | Best For | Imported or Domestic | Pricing per oz. | Shipping Included |
---|---|---|---|---|
Browne Trading Company | Overall | Both | Starts at $36 (1 ounce of American Hackleback) + shipping | Free over $150 |
Petrossian | Premium | Both | Starts at $62 (1 ounce of Classic Baika) + shipping | No |
Tsar Nicoulai | American White Sturgeon | Domestic | Starts at $30 (0.5 ounces of Classic) | Free over $100 |
Goldbelly | Variety | Both | Starts at $80 | Yes |
Frequently Asked Questions
What Is the Difference Between Caviar and Roe?
Roe is a general term that refers to collected fish eggs from marine animals. Commercially sold fish roe will often come from trout, salmon, herring, and other types of fish as well as other marine animals such as sea urchins. Caviar refers specifically to salted roe from the sturgeon fish that originally lived in the Caspian and Black Seas. There are 27 different species of sturgeon, but because wild sturgeon is endangered, companies began farming sturgeon to provide a sustainable source of caviar.
What Is the Shelf Life of Caviar?
Caviar is good for approximately 24 hours from the time it is opened, up to three days at the most. It is important to check the best buy date for guidance on how long it will last unopened, as some may be recommended to be consumed within the week and others may last closer to three to four weeks.
How Should Caviar Be Stored?
Caviar needs to be stored in the coldest part of your refrigerator, ideally between 32 and 38 degrees. Freezing caviar is not recommended.
How Is Caviar Graded?
Each company may have its specific nuances of grading, but caviar is generally graded based on its size, color, flavor, texture, and overall consistency in appearance.
How Should Caviar Be Served?
Prior to serving, allow refrigerated caviar to sit unopened at room temperature for five to 10 minutes. Traditionally, caviar is served in a set that has a bottom for holding shaved ice, a bowl on top for the caviar, and a mother of pearl spoon. That spoon is recommended for the purest tasting experience, as metal utensils can interfere with the flavor. There are a few different ways to serve caviar, but the most traditional presentation is with blinis and creme fraiche.
How We Chose the Best Caviar Delivery Services
A dozen caviar delivery services were considered for this piece. Primary considerations were the sourcing and farming practices of the caviar, the harvesting and maturing process, company history, and customer reviews. Pricing and shipping fees were also assessed, as well as the overall variety of caviar selection.
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Spruce Eats / Designed by Amelia Manley