Beluga, the black diamond of the sea

Beluga caviar (branded as Almas caviar in Iran meaning 'Diamond caviar') consists of the roe (or eggs) of the Beluga sturgeon found primarily in the Caspian Sea. It can also be found in the Black Sea basin and occasionally in the Adriatic Sea.

The Beluga sturgeon can take up to 20 years to reach maturity. The fish harvested for caviar are often nearly 2000 pounds. The eggs themselves are the largest of the commonly used roes, and range in color from light blue to black, with the lighter colors coming from older fish, and being the highest valued.

Beluga caviar ranges in price from more than $5,000 per kilogram in the United States, to a low of around $250 per kilo in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, the major production center.

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