National Caviar Day

National Caviar Day is a holiday observed on July 18th every year and is used as a way to celebrate a food that most people consider a delicacy. As many of our readers may already know, caviar is a food made from sturgeon fish eggs and is usually enjoyed on dry or lightly buttered toast. It’s also served on Russian pancakes known as blini or garnished with sour cream, herbs, and chopped onions. No matter how it’s served, this day is the perfect opportunity to indulge.

The History of Caviar

As far as anyone knows, caviar was enjoyed by Byzantine Greeks—mainly nobles and members of the aristocracy—since the 10th century. However, they weren’t the first people to enjoy this delicacy. They began to trade for it when the Byzantine Empire started to receive imports from the Kievan Rus towards the end of the 9th century. Of course, caviar goes back even further than that. It’s been reported that Batu Khan consumed caviar as far back as the 1230s.

The caviar business was first established in the United States during the second half of the 19th century. This is when a German immigrant named Henry Schacht started his own caviar business in 1873 at Penns Grove, New Jersey. He then began to export caviar all over the world for the price of a dollar a pound. Adjusted for inflation, that would be about $25.40 in 2020 dollars.

Fun Facts About Caviar

Now that we’ve done a brief history of caviar, it’s time to turn our attention to some fun facts about this food. Below are some of the things that we learned while researching this holiday. Facts that we’re sure everyone is going to appreciate.

  • The most expensive caviar in the world costs 40,000 euros per kilo.
  • Different caviar varieties have different colors, and the colors can range from light gray to black.
  • Silver should never be used to serve or eat caviar, as silver degrades the taste of the product.
  • Caviar should be served using spoons made out of mother of pearl.
  • The word “caviar” comes from the Turkish name “havyar”—a word that means “egg.”
  • The best caviar in the world is made from either Russian sturgeon, Beluga sturgeon, or Stellate sturgeon.

Observing National Caviar Day

Of course, the one and only way to enjoy this holiday is by enjoying some of the finest caviar that you can afford. If you can’t find caviar locally, then you can always purchase quality caviar off the internet. Another way to celebrate this holiday, and probably your cheapest option, is by using the hashtag #NationalCaviarDay on your social media accounts.

When is it?
This year (2024)
July 18 Thursday
Next year (2025)
July 18 Friday
Last year (2023)
July 18 Tuesday
Topic
Food & Drinks