The Tasting Notes: A great caviar tasting comes down to variety, temperature and pacing. Choose three or four tins that contrast in flavour, keep everything properly chilled, and guide guests from the mildest variety to the boldest for an evening that feels genuinely considered.
A caviar tasting is one of the easiest ways to make an evening feel properly special.
At London Caviar Company, we get asked fairly often how to put one together at home, so here's a proper walkthrough: which varieties to choose, how to present them, and what to serve alongside.
None of it needs to be complicated. It just needs a bit of planning.
Which varieties should I include?
A good tasting works best with contrast, so aim for three or four tins that sit at different points on the flavour spectrum rather than several similar ones.
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Baerii is the natural starting point: mild, briny and smooth, and a gentle way into the evening.
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Oscietra follows with a nuttier, creamier character, while Royal Imperial brings a briny opening and a buttery finish that closely mirrors premium Caspian caviar
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Beluga rounds things off as the richest and most intense of the four, with the largest pearls in the range.
If you'd rather not build the selection yourself, the Caviar Tasting Selection already pairs three varieties in one purchase. It’s a straightforward option if you're short on time.
How should I present it?
Presentation does a lot of the work in a tasting. Keep each tin nestled in crushed ice to hold the temperature, and serve with mother of pearl, bone or glass spoons rather than metal. That’s because reacts with the roe and leaves a faint metallic taste.
Arrange the varieties from mildest to boldest, and let guests move through them in that order rather than jumping around. It's a small thing, but it changes how each variety actually reads on the palate.
What should I serve alongside it?
Keep the classic accompaniments simple when serving caviar. Serve the following in separate small dishes so guests can build their own:
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Blinis and crème fraiche
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Toast points with unsalted butter
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Finely chopped egg white and yolk with red onion and chives
If you want to go a little further, avocado toast works nicely with Baerii, a spoonful of Royal Imperial sits well on seared scallops, and Oscietra pairs naturally with a light lobster bisque. Keep any additions simple. Strong flavours like garlic will fight the caviar rather than complement it.
What should my guests drink?
Champagne is the classic choice. A Brut or Blanc de Blancs works well across most of the range. Chilled vodka is a good neutral option that lets the caviar lead, and a dry white like Sauvignon Blanc or Chablis works if you'd rather stay off spirits. For anyone not drinking, sparkling water with lemon does a good job of cleansing the palate between tins.
As a rough guide, pair the lighter varieties like Baerii and Oscietra with something lighter such as rosé champagne, and save the vodka or dry whites for Beluga and Royal Imperial.
How do I set up a tasting station?
If you're hosting more than a couple of people, a dedicated tasting station works better than passing tins around the table. Set all the tins out on crushed ice together, with small plates of accompaniments nearby, and a simple note on tasting order so guests know where to start.
A bite of apple or a sip of water between varieties works as a palate cleanser, and gives guests a natural way to reset before moving on to the next tin.
What details make the evening feel special?
A few small touches go a long way. Printed tasting notes for each variety help guests engage with what they're actually tasting rather than just eating it. It can even be just a line or two on its origin and flavour.
The rest is atmosphere: linen napkins, simple flowers, candlelight and something soft playing in the background. None of it needs to be elaborate. It just needs to feel considered.
How should I finish the evening?
If you want to extend things beyond the tasting itself, a poached egg with hollandaise and a final spoonful of caviar makes a natural next course. For something more playful, dark chocolate truffles with a touch of Baerii caviar surprise most guests in a good way.
A small takeaway is a nice way to end the evening and give people something to remember it by. That could be a mini tin or a mother of pearl spoon, for example.
Start planning your own caviar evening
Hosting a caviar tasting doesn't need a special occasion to justify it. A bit of variety, the right temperature and a sensible running order does most of the work.
You can buy caviar online directly if you already know which varieties you want, or start with our caviar varieties if you'd like to compare all four before you commit to a selection.
London Caviar Company is based in London and has been making sustainably sourced caviar properly accessible since 2021. Every tin carries Friend of the Sea certification, and the brand holds a 4-star Trustpilot rating across 195+ reviews.
Not sure which varieties to include? Get in touch and the team will help you put a selection together.