What is the difference between fish roe and caviar? This is one of the most common questions we get from our readers.
Fish Roe vs. Caviar Summary
Practically speaking, fish roe and caviar are the same – they both refer to fish eggs. The difference is that in practice, they refer to different types of fish eggs.
Caviar 🥇 Fish eggs – any Sturgeon
- A particular type of fish roe
- Sturgeon only
- Salt-cured + Aged
- Unfertilized eggs
- Complex nutty and buttery flavour
- Light-moderate fish taste
Fish Roe 🥈 Fish eggs – any fish
- Eggs from any fish species
- Cured or salted
- Salmon, trout, masago +
- Unfertilized eggs
- Medium flavour profile
- Moderate-to-high fish taste
Roe 🥉 Eggs – any marine animal
- All eggs from any marine animal
- Not cured or salted
- Fish, shrimp, squid, lobster +
- Unfertilized eggs
- Basic flavour profile
- Moderate-to-high fish taste
- Caviar is a specific type of fish egg from the sturgeon fish species (Acipenseridae) only that is cured in salt and then aged. This species is known for its special roe that is expensive, relatively scarce and exhibits a complex nutty and buttery flavour.
- Fish roe, on the other hand, is essentially fish eggs from any fish species such as salmon and trout to lumpfish and masago.
- Roe is eggs from all marine animals such as shrimp, squid, lobster, and of course, fish.
In this guide, we’ll explore all the differences between fish roe and caviar. Read on to learn more.
Caviar vs. Fish Roe Comparison Table
If you’re in a hurry, have a look at the table below which summarizes the differences between fish roe and caviar.
| Fish Roe | Caviar | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | $60-$400/kg | $900-$30,000/kg |
| Color | Yellow, Orange, Red | Grey, Black, Brown, Green + |
| Species | Various | Sturgeon only |
| Rarity | Abundant | Scarce |
| Taste | None, fishy | Nutty, buttery, creamy, mild fishy |
| Extraction | C-section | No-kill, C-section |
| Egg Size | Small | Medium-Very Large |
| Fish Size | Small-Medium | Medium-Large |
| Source | Farmed, Wild | Farmed, Wild |
| Aged | No | Yes |
| Salt-Cured | Sometimes | Always |
Fish Roe vs. Caviar Prices
One of the most important differences between caviar and fish eggs is their price. The priciest caviar can be well over 40 times more expensive than the fish roe.
| Caviar Prices | Fish Roe Prices |
|---|---|
| $900 to $30,000 per kilo | $60 to $400 per kilo |
Caviar (sturgeon fish roe) is more expensive for a number of reasons such as demand, popularity, age to maturity, production and extraction costs, and more. Check out our guide on Caviar & Fish Roe Pricing to learn more.
Nutritional Value of Caviar & Fish Roe
Is caviar more nutritional than other roe and fish roe? Let’s take a look at the nutritional value of a variety of fish compared to caviar for a 1-ounce (28g) portion.
| Fish Roe (Mixed)* | Caviar | |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 40-50 | 70-80 |
| Protein | 3-6g | 5-7g |
| Fats | 0-3g | 4-6g |
| Carbohydrates | 0-2g | 1-2g |
| Vitamin A** | 3-31% | 8-10% |
| Vitamin D** | 17-19% | 3-6% |
| Vitamin E** | 11-14% | 2-4% |
| Calcium** | 0-3% | 5-7% |
| Iron** | 5-6% | 35-40% |
| Cholesterol** | 25-30% | 50-55% |
| Sodium** | 25-30% | 15-20% |
| Folate** | 4-6% | 2-4% |
| Phosphorus** | 6-10% | 5-8% |
| Selenium** | 18-21% | 29-34% |
| Choline** | 17-19% | 24-26% |
As we can see from the results, caviar is more calorific and packs more protein and fat but has a smaller vitamin content compared to fish roe. Caviar also packs more of certain minerals such as calcium, selenium, and choline but less folate and phosphorus.
The Different Colours of Roe and Caviar
Fish egg colours vary a lot, even within the same fish families. In this section, we’ll explain how to distinguish sturgeon roe (caviar) from other fish roe.
Roe, other than caviar, comes in a wide range of bright yellow, orange and red tones compared to caviar, which comes in darker tones of brown, green, grey, and black.
Caviar colours, which are all considered Black Caviar, come in three general colour pallets:
- Grey to black tones
- Amber to green tones
- Gold to brown tones
These can be visualized in the image below focusing on the top two rows. While this is only a sample of colours, you can see the colour range is broad.
Red or Black Caviar?
Red roe comes from salmon, trout, and other similar fish families whereas black caviar comes exclusively from the sturgeon family.
Red fish roe is commonly referred to as red caviar, however, it’s important to remember that caviar comes exclusively from sturgeon fish. Sturgeon fish do not produce red eggs so theoretically, red caviar does not exist!
As explained in the previous section, black caviar refers to three distinct colour pallets so don’t be surprised if your “Black Caviar” has a rich green or golden brown colour.
| Red Caviar | Black Caviar | |
|---|---|---|
| Roe | Yes | Yes |
| Real Caviar? | No | Yes |
| Colors | Yellow, Orange, Red | Grey, Black, Brown, Green |
Salmon Roe vs. Caviar
If you’ve been reading along, you’ll already know that salmon roe consists of orange and red fish eggs with a simple flavour and pronounced fishy notes. It is inexpensive and commonly found in grocery stores or on your favourite sushi.
Comparatively, caviar consists of black and dark tones with an amazing combination of nutty and buttery notes. Caviar is a delicacy and luxury food item found in specialty stores and fancy restaurants.
Comparing Caviar and Roe Tastes
Another important difference between caviar and roe is the taste. Why would anyone pay forty times more for caviar if it tastes just as good as fish roe?
The best caviar is characterized by having a complex flavour that bursts out of the firm and perfectly textured eggs.
Caviar is rich and buttery, slightly salty and savoury (similar to oysters) with a nutty and earthy finish.
While some types of caviar are a bit fishier than others, high-quality caviar will never be very fishy.
Roe, on the other hand, is characterized by simple and very subtle flavours, albeit, much more fishy and soft compared to caviar.
Caviar is a delicacy with a complex flavour profile that can be appreciated by those with refined pallets and a deep appreciation of fine cuisine. Indeed, the demand for caviar would be nonexistent if it tasted the same as regular ol’ salmon or trout roe.
Key Takeaways
- Caviar is fish roe (eggs) specifically from the sturgeon family of fish
- Fish roe is eggs from all species of fish
- Roe are eggs from all marine animals such as lobster, shrimp, squid, and fish
- Caviar and fish roe are both extremely nutritional
- Caviar colours range from brown and green to grey and black
- Fish roe colours range from pale yellow to bright red
- Caviar has a creamy and nutty flavour with light notes of fish
- Roe has a more bland flavour with stronger notes of fish
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