Ossetra

Common card · No. 443136

Ossetra (also Osetra, Oscietra, Osetrova, or Asetra) caviar is one of the most prized and expensive types of caviar (eclipsed in price only by Beluga caviar). It is obtained from the Russian sturgeon (Huso gueldenstaedtii), which weighs 50–400 pounds (22.6–181.4 kg) and can live up to 50 years. Ossetra caviar varies in color from deep brown to gold. Lighter varieties are more sought after, as they have the richest flavor and come from the oldest sturgeon. Golden Ossetra is a rare form of Ossetra caviar and is golden-yellow with a very rich flavor. The word Ossetra is the transcription of the genitive case form осетра (osetra, 'of sturgeon') of the Russian word осётр (osyotr, 'sturgeon') from the phrase икра осетра (ikra osetra, 'caviar of sturgeon'). At one time, "ossetra" referred to Russian sturgeon species harvested for this type of caviar.

Read on Wikipedia · Image Charles Haynes from Bangalore, India, CC BY-SA 2.0