How to spot fake or imitation caviar
I saw some very cheap "black caviar" at a local discount store and I am suspicious. It was only ten dollars for a glass jar. Is there a way to tell if it is real sturgeon or just a seaweed imitation? I don't want to serve something fake to my guests and be embarrassed.
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You are right to be suspicious because real sturgeon is never that cheap. Most likely, you are looking at caviar imitation made from seaweed or other fish like lumpfish dyed black. A quick way to tell is to put a few grains in hot water - real roe will turn the water slightly cloudy because of the proteins, while fake ones often just bleed their dye and stay hard. Real sturgeon roe from Bester has a very specific structure and a tiny "eye" inside the egg. Imitations usually feel like gelatin or rubber and have a very flat, salty taste without any depth. It is always better to buy from a reputable source like Bester to ensure you are getting the real, authentic product from a sturgeon.