◆ Last updated: ◆ By LeDiamont — Zervan GmbH
Two or three caviars, about 30 g per person
For a caviar tasting party, choose two or three caviars and plan about 30 g per person in total, for example 10 g of each of three caviars, then multiply by the number of guests. Serve each tin on a bed of ice, with no direct contact between the pearls and the ice, and taste from the most delicate to the most powerful according to your tins: plain first, then on blini with crème fraîche, with brut champagne or ice-cold vodka. Keep the guided tasting to 60–90 minutes, then let guests return to their favourite.
Key takeaways
- ◆Two or three caviars is the sweet spot. Beyond four, palates blur.
- ◆About 30 g per person in total for a tasting, shared between the caviars, multiplied by the number of guests.
- ◆Taste from delicate to powerful according to your tins, plain before garnished, with water between caviars.
- ◆Keep everything cold: small quantities on ice, the reserve in the fridge.
- ◆Plan early: confirm delivery options and dates with our team, and earlier still in December.
Contents
Choose your party format
| Format | Best for | Caviar per person |
|---|---|---|
| Guided tasting | A small group who want to learn and compare | About 30 g in total, e.g. 10 g of each of three caviars |
| Caviar-centred aperitif or caviar bar | A standing reception where caviar is the highlight | About 50 g |
| Caviar dinner | A seated evening where caviar is the main course | About 125 g |
Total to order = number of guests × amount per person. For more detail, see our guide to how much caviar per person.
Which caviars to choose
A good tasting shows contrast. Pick caviars that differ in pearl size, colour and intensity. The profiles below are general; each harvest and each tin is a little different.
| Caviar | Typical character | What guests notice |
|---|---|---|
| Iranian Baeri Caviar | Clean, mild, dark pearls | An easy, approachable introduction |
| Iranian Ossetra Caviar | Nutty, creamy, golden-brown to dark pearls | Depth and a long, rounded finish |
| Iranian Sevruga Caviar | Fine pearls, marked briny intensity | A pronounced taste of the sea |
| Iranian Beluga AA® Caviar | Very large, soft pearls, buttery | A special-occasion centrepiece |
Setting the order: open the tins shortly before the party, taste a little of each, and line them up from the most delicate to the most powerful according to your tins. There is no fixed order by species.
Availability and sizes can vary by caviar, especially for Sevruga: check each product page before planning around it.
Your party countdown
Two weeks before
- ◆Fix the date, the format and the guest list.
- ◆Ask guests about their dietary preferences and restrictions.
- ◆Plan the drinks.
One to two weeks before
- ◆Order the caviar and confirm delivery options and dates with our team; plan earlier in December. Unopened tins keep for weeks in the fridge when the label allows it; see how long caviar lasts.
- ◆Get tasting spoons in mother-of-pearl, glass or porcelain (food-grade stainless steel also works; avoid silver): ideally one per guest per caviar, or enough to rinse between rounds.
- ◆Print the tasting cards (template below).
The day before
- ◆Make the blini (they reheat well) and boil the eggs.
- ◆Chill the drinks; put the vodka in the freezer.
- ◆Check your fridge: caviar keeps best just above freezing, so place the sealed tins on an ice pack in the coldest part of the fridge.
- ◆Prepare plenty of ice.
Two hours before
- ◆Set the stations: bowls for ice, spoons, name cards, water glasses, crackers.
- ◆Prepare the crème fraîche, chopped egg (white and yolk separately) and chives, then keep them covered in the fridge until service.
Thirty minutes before
- ◆Fill the bowls with crushed ice.
- ◆Warm the blini in a low oven.
- ◆Bring out the first tin shortly before its turn; keep the others in the fridge until they are needed.
How to set up the table
- ◆One station per caviar: a bowl of crushed ice with the tin resting on it, no direct contact between the pearls and the ice, a serving spoon and a small card with the caviar’s name.
- ◆Serve small quantities at a time and keep the reserve in the fridge rather than on the table.
- ◆For each guest: small tasting spoons in mother-of-pearl, glass or porcelain, a glass of still water and a champagne glass.
- ◆Palate cleansers: plain water crackers or unsalted blini.
- ◆Accompaniments on the side, not on the caviar: blini, crème fraîche, chopped egg, chives.
- ◆Keep it simple: with more than five or six elements on the table, guests stop tasting the caviar.
The tasting flow: 60–90 minutes
- 1Welcome (about 10 minutes). A glass of champagne and a short introduction: what caviar is, where each one comes from, how to taste it.
- 2Round one, plain (about 20 minutes). Taste each caviar in turn, from the most delicate to the most powerful. Take a small amount on a spoon or on the back of the hand, smell it, press the pearls gently against the roof of the mouth and notice the finish. Sip water between caviars.
- 3Scores and conversation (about 10 minutes). Guests fill in their cards and share their favourite.
- 4Round two, with accompaniments (about 20 minutes). The same caviars on warm blini with crème fraîche, with champagne or vodka.
- 5Free tasting. Guests return to their favourite; finish any remaining caviar on potatoes, eggs or canapés.
For the full serving technique, see how to serve caviar.
Printable tasting card
| Caviar 1 | Caviar 2 | Caviar 3 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Name | ………… | ………… | ………… |
| Colour and pearl size | ………… | ………… | ………… |
| Aroma (clean, sea, nutty…) | ………… | ………… | ………… |
| Texture (firm, soft, creamy…) | ………… | ………… | ………… |
| Flavour (buttery, briny, nutty…) | ………… | ………… | ………… |
| Finish (short, long) | ………… | ………… | ………… |
| Score out of 10 | ………… | ………… | ………… |
| Best with (plain, blini, champagne, vodka) | ………… | ………… | ………… |
Tip: reveal the names and prices only after the scores. Guests are often surprised by which caviar they prefer.
Drinks for a caviar party
- ◆Brut or Extra Brut champagne for the welcome and the second round: plan about two glasses per guest for a tasting, more for a long evening.
- ◆Ice-cold vodka in small glasses, for guests who like the classic pairing.
- ◆Still water between caviars: champagne is part of the experience, but water is the real palate cleanser.
- ◆Alcohol is optional and best enjoyed in moderation; offer a good sparkling water too.
For pairing by caviar, see our guide to caviar and champagne. Our champagne selection is not yet available to order; availability is shown on the page.
Food beyond the caviar
- ◆Light bites: blini, baby potatoes with crème fraîche, stuffed eggs, cucumber rounds.
- ◆Something warm later: scrambled eggs or buttered pasta finished with leftover caviar.
- ◆Go easy on strongly flavoured dishes, garlic, spice and heavy cheese before or during the tasting.
More ideas in what to serve with caviar.
New Year’s Eve: a caviar run-of-show
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 20:00 | Welcome drinks; caviar canapés on blini with crème fraîche |
| 20:45 | Guided tasting of two or three caviars, plain then on blini |
| 21:45 | Dinner: seared scallops or white fish finished with caviar, or a saffron risotto topped with caviar |
| 23:00 | Dessert and coffee; opened tins covered and back in the fridge |
| 23:50 | Bring out the last tin on a bed of ice and pour the champagne |
| 00:00 | A small “caviar bump” on the back of the hand, followed by the toast |
Tip: keep one small sealed tin in the fridge for the midnight moment, so it is perfectly fresh when the clock strikes twelve.
Budget: what a tasting costs per person
For a tasting of three caviars at about 10 g each (30 g per person), here is the indicative cost per person, calculated from the 30 g tin prices displayed on our product pages:
| Caviar | 30 g tin | Share for 10 g per person |
|---|---|---|
| Iranian Baeri Caviar | CHF 57 | about CHF 19 |
| Iranian Sevruga Caviar | CHF 64 | about CHF 21 |
| Iranian Ossetra Caviar | CHF 83 | about CHF 28 |
| Total per person | about CHF 68 |
Multiply by the number of guests and round up to whole tins. Larger tins can lower the price per gram but raise the total; compare both. Smaller budget? Taste two caviars instead of three, keeping about 30 g per person in total.
Theme and atmosphere ideas
- ◆Black and gold: dark tablecloth, gold accents, candlelight; the caviar becomes the centrepiece.
- ◆Around the Caspian: a map and short cards telling the story of each sturgeon species, with vodka and blini.
- ◆Champagne and caviar soirée: white flowers, coupe glasses, soft jazz.
- ◆Blind tasting: numbered bowls and a small prize for the guest who identifies the most caviars.
Mistakes to avoid
- ◆Too many caviars. After four, few people can tell them apart.
- ◆Putting all the caviar out at once. Serve small quantities and keep the reserve in the fridge.
- ◆Silver spoons or serving bowls. Choose mother-of-pearl, glass or porcelain.
- ◆Tasting the most powerful caviar first. It masks the more delicate ones.
- ◆Smothering the caviar with onion, lemon or heavy garnishes during the tasting.
- ◆Leaving leftovers on the table. Cover them with film pressed onto the surface and refrigerate at once.
Read also: our complete guide to Iranian caviar, its history, its varieties and how to buy it in Switzerland.
Frequently asked questions
How much caviar do I need for a tasting party?
About 30 g per person in total, for example 10 g of each of three caviars, multiplied by the number of guests. Plan about 50 g per person if caviar is the highlight of the evening.
How many types of caviar should I serve?
Two or three. Choose caviars that differ in pearl size, colour and intensity so guests can taste the contrast.
In what order should caviar be tasted?
From the most delicate to the most powerful according to your tins, plain first and then with accompaniments, with water between each caviar.
How long should a caviar tasting last?
About 60 to 90 minutes for the guided part, followed by free tasting.
What do I need to host a caviar party?
Bowls of crushed ice, spoons in mother-of-pearl, glass or porcelain, blini, crème fraîche, water glasses, champagne or vodka, and tasting cards.
How far ahead should I buy caviar for a party?
Order early and confirm delivery options and dates with our team, earlier still in December. Keep the sealed tins in the coldest part of the fridge and follow the label.
What is a caviar bump?
A small amount of caviar tasted from the back of the hand, between thumb and index finger. It is a traditional way to taste caviar and a fun moment at midnight on New Year’s Eve.
How much does a caviar tasting party cost?
With the 30 g tin prices displayed on 17 October 2026, 10 g each of Baeri, Sevruga and Ossetra came to about CHF 68 per person. Check the product pages for current prices.
Plan your party
Sources
- LeDiamont: Iranian Baeri Caviar: price and sizes (consulted 17 October 2026)
- LeDiamont: Iranian Sevruga Caviar: price and sizes (consulted 17 October 2026)
- LeDiamont: Iranian Ossetra Caviar: price and sizes (consulted 17 October 2026)
- LeDiamont: Iranian Beluga AA® Caviar: price and sizes (consulted 17 October 2026)
- LeDiamont: Sophie Cossy champagne: availability (consulted 17 October 2026)
- LeDiamont: How much caviar per person: portion guide