How to choose the perfect caviar gift

Caviar is one of the few gifts that is both a luxury and a shared moment. It also has one rule that most gifts don't: it has to arrive cold and be enjoyed soon. Here is how to choose well.

Start with who it is for

• A caviar lover. They will notice quality, so choose a larger tin and a single, well-sourced caviar over a mixed assortment.
• Someone new to caviar. A small tin is a gift in itself, and it lets them taste it properly without feeling they have to finish a lot.
• A host or a couple. Think about the evening it will be eaten at, and pick a size that fits the table.

Choose the right size

A good rule is 15 to 30 grams per person for a taste, and more if caviar is the main event.

• 50 g: a small gift, or a first taste for two or three people
• 125 g: a dinner for four, or a generous gift for two
• 250 g: a party, or a serious caviar lover
• 500 g: a celebration, or a gift to a whole household

Opus Kaluga Hybrid caviar is $1.50 per gram, so the 50 g tin is $75 and the 125 g tin is $187.50.

Think about timing

Fresh caviar is meant to be eaten within 48 hours of opening, and it needs to stay cold until then. That makes timing more important than packaging. A gift that arrives while the recipient is home, or that is waiting for a planned dinner, is much better than one that sits in a hot hallway.

This is why we deliver by courier the same day, packed on ice, and never by mail.

Add a note, and decide whether it's a surprise

When you send an Opus order as a gift, you can write a note of up to 200 characters. You also choose between two experiences:

• Not a surprise: we text the recipient when it leaves us and again when it's close.
• Keep it a surprise: they won't hear from us until the courier is about 10 minutes away.

If no one answers the door, the courier leaves it at the door and sends a photo. Caviar should be refrigerated promptly, so a surprise works best when you know someone will be home.

Keep the pairing simple

You do not need to send a whole hamper. A tin of caviar, a bottle of dry sparkling wine or Champagne, and a note is already a complete gift. If you want to send a little more, plain blini and crème fraîche are all it needs.

Opus Caviar is opening soon with same-day delivery across the South Bay. Join the list to be first to order, and read our guide to serving caviar so your recipient knows what to do.