To have caviar for the first time is an experience that deserves attention, simplicity and time to discover its nuances.
The ideal is to start with a small quantity, cold served and without accompaniments interfering with its taste.
It uses a nacar spoon, glass, porcelain or other non-reactive material. It lays the caves gently onto the tongue and allows them to be distributed through the palate.
No need to chew them greatly. A light pressure allows to free its contents and to appreciate the evolution of the taste.
What should we observe?
First, the texture: the caves have to offer a pleasant and characteristic sensation of their variety. Then, the balance between salinity, seawattists, creaminess and persistence.
A good caviar doesn't have to have an intense taste. Some of the most appreciated varieties stand out precisely for their delicacy.
For first tasting, less is more: the goal is to discover the product before combining with other ingredients.
A first tablespoon without examination or ceremony
Prepare a cold can, a mother-of-pearl spoon and a few minutes without haste. It serves a small quantity and lets the caves give up gently at the palate. Watch the texture, saline balance and how the taste changes. No need to describe with technical words: just compare sensations. Then you can add a neutral accompaniment and check what remains and what goes missing.
Do we have to chew caviar?
Not as a firm food. A soft pressure allows the caves to free their contents and to do so with violence reduces the possibility of noticing their evolution.
Do we have to start with champagne or caviar alone?
To get to know the product, first try a tablespoon to the natural. The pairing can come later, as soon as you have a clear reference to taste and texture.
The first time doesn't require solemn
A good introduction prevents two ends: treating caviar as an exam or covering with accompaniment to make it recognizable. Open the can as soon as everything's ready and look at the product and try a sufficient amount to perceive texture and evolution. Breathe, let the caves give up and wait a few seconds before they drink. The second tablespoon can be compared with a blini, a potato or a dry drink. If shared, explain what's necessary and leave room for different responses. The goal isn't to get an official description right but to figure out what a sensation it deserves to be repeated.
