In recent years, caviar and fish roe have become increasingly popular in Canada not only due to their amazing taste but also because of their incredible nutritional and health benefits.
Unlike tomatoes or apples, caviar and fish roe are specialty products that can be hard to find even in big cities like Toronto, Montreal, or Vancouver let alone in smaller cities and towns.
In the article, we’ll help you find the types of stores that are most likely to carry caviar and fish roe products in Canada.
Table of Contents
- Buying Caviar Online in Canada
- Fish Shops & Fish Markets in Canada
- Specialty Food & Organic Grocery Stores in Canada
- Large Grocery Chains in Canada
- Final Thoughts
- Sources
Buying Caviar Online in Canada
One of the most convenient ways to find caviar and fish roe in Canada is online like right here at CaviarHub. Online stores usually offer a large selection of products that are shipped right to your door, typically within 48 hours. You can expect to find the following products:
- Sturgeon caviar (Beluga, Ossetra, Sevruga, Starry, SIberian, DaVinci, Lake, White Sturgeon and more)
- Red and orange caviars (salmon roe, trout roe, lumpfish, whitefish, masago, tobiko, and more)
- Truffles, cured meats, smoked fish and other gourmet products
Important: beware of non-Canadian online stores. Non-Canadian online sellers will not ship to Canada as it is not permitted due to food safety regulations. If you find a store that is willing to ship you caviar or fish roe from outside of Canada it is most likely illegal and your product will get seized at the border!
Pros & Cons of Buying Online
- ✅ Large selection
- ✅ Competitive pricing
- ✅ Easy ordering
- ✅ Convenient delivery
- ⚠️ 24 hours+ to receive products
Overall, ordering online is a great option for several reasons. If you’re in a rush and need to find caviar or fish roe today, you’re better off finding it locally. Read on to learn more about where to find caviar locally in Canada.
Fish Shops & Fish Markets in Canada
Local fish shops and fresh fish markets are excellent places to find caviar and fish roe products locally. These specialty fish and seafood shops typically have a fridge (or freezer) with a respectable selection of different caviars and roes. However, it’s important to make sure that the product is refrigerated and not frozen.
Although caviar and fish roe can be frozen, it’s usually a sign of an old product and/or a lower-quality product. If the shop is busy and the product is fresh and refrigerated, you’re in the clear.
A great thing about these stores is that you can get caviar and fish roe on the spot (no waiting) but you can also pick up some of your favourite fish and seafood at the same time! You also have the benefit of chatting with the shop owner and getting recommendations.
Pros & Cons of Fish Shops & Fish Markets
- ✅ Receive same-day
- ✅ Fresh fish and seafood available
- ⚠️ Selection may be small
- ⚠️ Pricing may not be competitive
- ⚠️ Products might be frozen
Overall, buying caviar and fish eggs from a local fish shop or market is an amazing option, especially if there’s a busy fish shop/market in your area with a large selection of fresh products and competitive pricing.
However, not all cities are fortunate enough to have a local fish shop or market, which leads us to our next option – buying caviar and fish roe in grocery stores in Canada. Read on to learn more.
Specialty Food & Organic Grocery Stores in Canada
Smaller grocery stores that focus on organic foods and specialty products are growing in numbers and in popularity as many of us move towards a healthier lifestyle and diet.
In case you haven’t noticed, large grocers are dominated by unhealthy packaged and frozen foods, soft drinks, alcohol, pet food, and household cleaning products with a relatively small share reserved for fruits, vegetables, and fresh protein.
With the rise in awareness of the health benefits of caviar and the fact that these are typically wild and organic products, many of these stores have started selling caviar and fish roe. You can typically find them locally with an easy Google search.
Pros & Cons of Specialty Food & Organic Grocery Stores
- ✅ Receive same-day
- ✅ Other healthy foods available
- ⚠️ Selection may be small
- ⚠️ Pricing may not be competitive
Overall, specialty food and organic grocery stores can be great places to source caviar and fish roe should they sell them. We recommend calling these shops beforehand to make sure they have some in stock.
Large Grocery Chains in Canada
Most large grocers such as Loblaws, Metro, Sobeys, Safeway, etc. have fish and seafood counters where you’ll typically find salmon, a variety of whitefish, and other popular fish and seafood products. However, the majority of Canadian grocers don’t carry specialty products such as caviar and fish roe.
Certain bigger grocery stores in bigger cities and especially in nice neighbourhoods might carry a small selection of fish roe such as salmon, trout, and from time to time masago and tobiko (the fish eggs used for sushi) albeit, frozen.
Again, it’s essential to find non-frozen products since frozen caviar and fish roe lose their flavour and texture.
- ✅ Fresh fish and seafood available
- ⚠️ Poor selection / Not available
- ⚠️ Pricing may not be competitive
- ⚠️ Products likely to be frozen
Large grocery chains are not a great place to find caviar and fish roe. These stores like to sell common products in large volumes. However, they do bring in specialty products from time to time or if persistent demand exists so if you get lucky and find some fish roe or caviar, it’s worth picking some up!
Final Thoughts
- The best place to buy caviar and fish eggs in Canada is either online or at a fish shop/market
- If you’re not in a big rush, you will generally find more choices and better pricing online
- If you need caviar or fish roe ASAP, we recommend fish shops or specialty grocery stores
- Always make sure you are buying a fresh product and not a frozen one – frozen fish eggs get mushy and lose their flavour
Sources
- Wild Animal and Plant Protection and Regulation of International and Interprovincial Trade Act – Environment and Climate Change Canada
- Caviar sales soar as more people get a taste for posh fish eggs – BBC
- Casual caviar? Why the once-stuffy food is suddenly everywhere – The Globe and Mail
