Sturgeon caviar

Sturgeon caviar

　　Fuyuan sturgeon caviar is a specialty of Fuyuan County, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province. The widely renowned sturgeon caviar is made from the salted eggs of kaluga sturgeon and Amur sturgeon. The sturgeon eggs are about the size of mung beans, uniformly dark green in color, hence earning the nicknames “green gem” and “black pearl.” Due to their extremely high nutritional value, they are not only popular in European and American markets but also sell well domestically.

　　Sturgeon and kaluga are often referred to as “living fossils in water.” The Dajia Lake, where these fish are farmed, is located on a tributary of the Heilong River, covering an area of 30,000 mu with an average depth of 4 meters. It is mainly formed by the convergence of waters from the Yalu River and Nongjiang River. The lake area is rich in aquatic life and plants, making it an ideal site for aquaculture development.

　　The widely renowned sturgeon caviar is made from the salted eggs of kaluga sturgeon and Amur sturgeon. The sturgeon eggs are about the size of mung beans, uniformly dark green in color, hence earning the nicknames “green gem” and “black pearl.” Due to their extremely high nutritional value, they are not only popular in European and American markets but also sell well domestically. Despite their very high price, they remain highly favored by diners both at home and abroad, and can be considered a delicacy among health foods. As people’s living standards and awareness of health continue to improve, this premium fresh caviar has become a local specialty, appearing on the dining tables of ordinary households.

　　High-quality caviar should have a soft, round appearance, be fresh and plump, with juice that is black tinged with gray or brown. It should have a faint oceanic taste in the mouth, yet leave a rich and sweet aftertaste, and should not be overly salty. The best quality eggs use the least amount of salt—no more than 5% of the egg weight; this type of caviar is called “malossol” (low-salt) caviar. If the eggs are damaged or flattened, they are considered inferior. There is also a type that is not broken but has a jelly-like elasticity, lacks flavor, and has juice that is blackish or bluish—this is the lowest quality.

　　Sturgeon caviar is a protected geographical indication product.

　　The production area of sturgeon caviar includes Fuyuan Town, Nongqiao Town, Zhuaji Town, Bie lahong Township, Haiqing Township, Yanan Township, Nongjiang Township, Tongjiang Township, and Hanconggou Town in Fuyuan County.