Kaluga caviar — Huso Dauricus — is one of the rarest caviars in the world. The beads are large (3.2-3.6mm), with a striking golden-brown hue, a smooth, creamy texture, and a flavour profile that opens with butter and salt, followed by mellow nutty notes in the middle, and ends with a long, clean oceanic finish.

Originating from the Amur River basin in Asia’s far east, Huso Dauricus is the only other member of the same genus as Huso Huso — Beluga — sharing a similar bead size, the same rich buttery character, and a comparable depth of flavour.

The most prestigious product in the Amur River family — which also includes our Amur (Acipenser Schrenckii) and our Imperial (a hybrid of the two) — pure Kaluga is the benchmark against which others are compared. For the caviar-inclined ready to move beyond Osetra or Siberian, this is where the next chapter begins.

How does Kaluga caviar compare to Beluga?

Very closely. Kaluga (Huso Dauricus) and Beluga (Huso Huso) share the same genus — the only two members of the Huso family — and the similarities carry through in the experience: large beads, buttery richness, smooth texture, and a long finish.

Where Beluga tends to open with a more pronounced umami presence and a deeper saline intensity, Kaluga is slightly rounder and mellower — not less impressive, simply differently expressive. To most palates, the difference is subtle. The difference in price, however, is not.

Why is Kaluga caviar golden-brown?

Most people expect caviar to be black, and most is — but not all. Caviar comes in a variety of hues, ranging from white, yellow, and gold, to grey, dark brown, and green.

Kaluga is one of these. The beads range from deep amber to warm golden-brown, a natural result of the species’ genetics rather than any treatment or processing. It’s one of Kaluga’s most distinguishing features and often the first thing people notice. Our Amur and Imperial caviars share this same warm colour family — a signature of the Amur River species that sets them apart from darker varieties like White Sturgeon, Siberian, and Osetra.

Is Kaluga caviar legal in Canada?

Yes — completely. Kaluga is sustainably farmed and CITES-compliant, with no import or sales restrictions in Canada. Unlike wild-caught Caspian Sea Beluga, which has been restricted since 2005, farmed Kaluga is available year-round without limitation. You get the Beluga family flavour profile, without the legal or sourcing issues.