Ossetra Caviar — La Mer Noire, 3 × 30 g Tins

What does it taste like?

Ossetra caviar tastes nutty and briskly saline, with a faint sweetness and a clean, non-oily finish. The pearls are firm and release cleanly. Each La Mer Noire tin holds the same fresh Ossetra as our larger tins, in a single-serving size.

Is the 3 × 30 g set the right size?

Each 30 g tin serves two people as an appetizer at 15 g each, or one person as a main event. The three tins serve six to seven guests in total. Separate tins let you open one serving at a time and keep the rest sealed, which suits a gift or several small occasions.

How to serve it

Rest the unopened tin on crushed ice for 15 minutes, then open at the table and serve straight from the tin.

• Spoon: Mother-of-pearl, bone or horn — never metal, which taints the flavor.
• With: Plain, or with blini and crème fraîche.
• Drink: Brut Champagne or chilled vodka.

Delivery and storage

USA Black Caviar packs the La Mer Noire tins the day they ship and sends them in an insulated cooler with gel ice, to all fifty states. The set ships within three business days, then overnight via UPS, from $21 per order. On arrival, refrigerate at 28–32 °F. Unopened, each tin keeps four weeks; opened, eat within 48 hours. Never freeze caviar — freezing ruptures the pearls.