What makes caviar expensive?

Rarity

Sturgeon, the fish from which caviar is traditionally sourced, are now endangered in the wild due to overfishing and habitat loss. This has led to almost all caviar to come from farmed sturgeon, as sturgeon are now a protected species.

Labour

Caviar harvesting is a labor-intensive process that requires skilled workers and cannot be replaced by machines. The eggs must be carefully extracted from the fish, washed, salted and packed into individual tins.

Time and Quality

A good caviar is produced from the eggs of older sturgeon, which means that the fish must be allowed to mature for many years before they are ready to be harvested. Additionally, the quality of caviar can be affected by factors such as the water it is raised in, the diet of the sturgeon, and the method of processing and storage.