Ossetra Caviar — La Mer Noire, 454 g

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. The 454 g tin is the same Ossetra as the smaller sizes, in the largest tin we carry.

Is the 454 g tin the right size?

The 454 g tin serves thirty to thirty-seven people as an appetiser at 12–15 g each, or about fifteen when caviar is the centre of the course. It suits a large event or a restaurant service. At about 12% less per ounce than the 100 g tin, it is the best value in the Ossetra line.

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 flavour.
• With: Plain, or with blini and crème fraîche.
• Drink: Brut Champagne or chilled vodka.

Delivery and storage

USA Black Caviar packs this 454 g tin the day it ships and sends it in an insulated cooler with gel ice, to all fifty states. It ships within three business days, then overnight via UPS, from $21 per order. On arrival, refrigerate at 28–32 °F. Unopened it keeps four weeks; opened, eat within 48 hours. Never freeze caviar — freezing ruptures the pearls.