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RIA Novosti
Famous Russian caviar is exported worldwide, and connoisseurs says that it is “better than rubies.” This is how it is extrackted in Tunaicha - a well-known in the Far East fishing enterprise.
RIA Novosti
The many varieties of sturgeon are among the oldest species on Earth, so it's not surprising that the history of caviar consumption stretches back for about 2,000 years.
RIA Novosti
Back in ancient times, fish roe was exported to Greece from the territory of today's Crimea. This is logical, as people have been fishing for some 40,000 years, and caviar is usually encountered whenever any fish is cut open and made ready for eating.Caviar didn't acquire its dainty status until early in the 16th century, when Pope Julius II introduced it at royal ceremonies in Europe.
RIA Novosti
During the turmoil of the Middle Ages, caviar somehow disappeared from dinner tables. But Russian fishermen re-discovered it in the 12th century, and it has been with us ever since.
RIA Novosti
Though it wasn't always appreciated (Louis 'The Beloved' XV famously spat out Peter the Great's gift of caviar), by the 17th century caviar was already associated with luxury.
RIA Novosti
Today, with the sturgeon facing extinction, caviar's status as a rare and expensive delicacy appears set to stay. Russian caviar is produced in the Volga, the Caspian Sea area, as well as in the Far East.
RIA Novosti
The most prized caviar is 'black caviar' (tchernaya ikra in Russian), which comes from three kinds of sturgeon: the Osseter, the Beluga, and the Sevryuga or Starred Sturgeon. But'red caviar' is also popular. It comes from fish like the Salmon, Red Salmon, Trout, Humpbacked Salmon, Dog Salmon, Lumpfish, and Tuna.
RIA Novosti
Caviar is then cleaned with water, membranes andimpurities are removed , and the product is salted inspecial metal containers. Experienced masters blend thecaviar of several sturgeons, selecting them by colour,consistency, and some other qualities known only to them. The brine must not be too strong: only 45 grams of salt perlitre of water.
RIA Novosti
Today the Tunaicha company processes some 5,000 tonnes of fish and seafood. The enterprises employs 350 people.
RIA Novosti
Tunaicha is a rare company in Russia successfully supplying tinned delicatessen products, in particular red caviar, on the international market. Russian delicacies produced by the company are in high demand in Great Britain, Holland, Belgium, Italy and other countries of Western Europe.
