Frequently asked questions about caviar
How long does caviar keep for?
Caviar can be kept for about 1 month in the fridge (between 0 and 4°C) before opening. Once the tin has been opened, it should be kept in the fridge and the caviar should be consumed within 24 hours. To retain its texture, caviar should never be frozen.
Where does your caviar come from?
Our caviar comes from different fish farms throughout the world, which all strictly adhere to Petrossian specifications. Our partner farms are located:
- In Europe: France, Bulgaria, Italy and Poland.
- In other regions of the world: mainly South America, Asia and Africa.
You can find out more detailed information regarding the provenance of each caviar in its description by clicking on “More information about the product”.
Immediately after production at the farms, Maison Petrossian transfers the caviar to its workshops in Paris, New York and London. The caviar masters then begin the refining and sorting work for each caviar. This maturation and selection process lasts from 3 to 12 months, and depends on the caviar and the degree of taste strength required. This expertise, unique to Petrossian, transforms it from a raw material (a caviar with a solely salty taste) to a caviar with more complex developed flavours and aromas, which are characteristic of a great caviar.
How is caviar served?
Caviar is eaten with a spoon (also known as a “tasting spoon”) made of stainless steel, hardwood or mother-of-pearl. Silver spoons should not be used to avoid any oxidation. Accompany your tasting session with one of the serving sets from our selection.
How should caviar be enjoyed?
Less is more! For a first tasting, caviar should be sampled on its own, or on just lightly buttered toast or blinis.
Which is the best caviar for a first tasting experience?
Ossetra Caviar? Baeri Baïka® Caviar? Sevruga Steluga® Caviar? Daurenki® Caviar or Beluga Caviar?
To understand more about our different types of caviar, and find the one which is perfect for your first tasting experience, have a look at this article: Which caviar to choose? It will take you through the different characteristics of all the Petrossian caviars.
What is the best drink to accompany caviar?
White vodka and caviar are the obvious pairing. In the purest Russian tradition, this perfect pairing is a safe choice for powerful and/or iodized caviars such as Baïka®, Sevruga or even Ossetra Royal.
For milder caviars, such as Beluga, Daurenki® or Ossetra Impérial, we prefer the freshness of a lightly balanced champagne or white wines with a fine balance between acidity and maturity. These will stimulate the taste buds, and allow the grains to release their fine marine flavours and delicate notes of dried fruit.
Contrary to what is often thought, it is better to avoid unbalanced champagnes, which are too structured, as these can “overpower” the caviar.
What recipes are there for caviar?
You will find lots of different recipe ideas for caviar on our blog. Follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts, or subscribe to our newsletter, to receive new ideas and inspiration.
Can I eat caviar if I am pregnant?
As a precaution, we would not advise our pregnant customers to eat caviar. Instead, we would recommend our pasteurised products such as taramas or koshkas®, including tarama with caviar or wild salmon roe.
Frequently asked questions about salmon
What is the country of origin for your salmon?
Our farmed salmon (sliced and Coupe du Tsar®) comes mainly from Scotland, but it can also come occasionally from Norway depending on local fishing and climatic variations.
Wherever it comes from, the fish farms are selected to ensure that there is a good flow-through of marine currents, and each farm strictly complies with Petrossian’s quality charter.
Our wild salmon is caught in the Baltic Sea, in a fishing area which extends from Poland to Finland (but is outside Russian territorial waters).
What is the difference between farmed salmon and wild salmon?
There is both a visual and taste difference.
Wild salmon have a pale-beige colour whereas farmed salmon have a pink-orange colour.
Wild Baltic salmon feed on pelagic fish such as herring and sprats. This food gives them their very light and slightly pink-coloured flesh which is why they deserve their “Baltic Blonde” name.
For the same reasons, Wild Baltic salmon have a more distinctive taste than farmed salmon, with roasted notes and a slightly more salty feel in the mouth.
The colour of farmed salmon comes from their carefully controlled diet which guarantees a balance of flavours. In contrast, wild salmon have slight variations in hue and taste depending on their lifecycle.
Please note that Petrossian salmon is subject to strict specifications, including a GM-free diet and analytical monitoring of heavy metals, PCBs and dioxins.
Which salmon should I choose?
If you like salmon with a mild and balanced flavour, then farmed salmon is a good choice. This type of salmon is especially suited for dinners where there are guests of all ages.
If you are looking for salmon with a more distinctive flavour for a tasting experience amongst people who enjoy gourmet food, then we would recommend wild salmon.
How should salmon be served and enjoyed?
We recommend removing the salmon from the fridge 5 to 10 minutes before serving it. Salmon is often enough by itself, and can be enjoyed on its own or on toast. We advise against serving it with lemon juice as this affects the ability to appreciate its flavour. To add an acidic note, we suggest accompanying it with a sour cream flavoured with dill, and adding a note of lemon to the cream.
How long does salmon keep for?
Salmon can be kept for up to 3 weeks in the fridge provided it is kept in its vacuum packaging. Once it is opened, it should be eaten within 24 to 48 hours, and kept in a sealed package in the fridge.
Can I freeze salmon?
Farmed salmon can be frozen, except if stated otherwise on the label.
Wild salmon cannot be frozen. As it is mandatory, for health reasons, to freeze wild fish which is intended to be sold raw, or smoked at a low temperature, wild salmon has therefore already been frozen.
Can I eat salmon if I am pregnant?
As a precaution, we would not advise our pregnant customers to eat raw or smoked fish. Instead, we would recommend our wild salmon roe or taramas which have been pasteurised.
What recipes are there for salmon?
You will find lots of different recipe ideas for salmon on our blog. Follow our Facebook and Instagram accounts, or subscribe to our newsletter, to receive new ideas and inspiration.
Frequently asked questions about products
What is the country of origin and the composition of your products?
All our smoked fish products are made in France, and are prepared in our traditional smokehouse at Angers. Most of our delicatessen products are made in France, and a few are made in Europe and Armenia. You can find out the country of origin and composition of each product in its description by clicking on the “More information about the product” link.
Petrossian does not sell any products originating from Russia.
How should your products be stored?
Foie gras can be kept for up to 3 weeks in the fridge before opening.
Taramas and koshka® can be kept for up to 6 weeks in the fridge before opening.
For each product, you will find the storage conditions in the description by clicking on the “More information about the product” link.
For any additional questions, please contact our Customer Service.
Questions about your order
Can I have some help with placing an order?
Our Customer Service is available to help and advise you from 9am to 5pm from Monday to Friday via our contact form or by telephone on +33 (0)9 70 70 59 11.
You can also speak to an advisor during the Customer Service opening hours detailed below, by using the chat box at the bottom of the website.
We recommend using the latest versions of the Chrome or Mozilla Firefox browsers for optimal functionality of our site on your computer.
What is the availability of the products on the site?
All the products on the site are in stock. If a product is temporarily unavailable, you can be informed by email when that product will become available again. To do this, click on the “Tell me when the product is back in stock” link on the product page.
If you are unable to find one of our specialities on the site, then it may be because it is sold exclusively in our boutiques.
Can I change or cancel my order?
It is not possible to change an order once it has been validated. To make an order change or cancellation request, please contact our Customer Service as soon as possible.
Do I need to create an account to place an order?
You can place an order as a guest without having to create or be connected to a customer account. If you want to do this, then do not enter your password when finalising the purchase. However, we would recommend creating a personal account and connecting to this account when placing your orders.
This will then allow you to have access to your purchase history, invoices, and tracking information about your orders.
How can I track my order?
If you have placed an order whilst being connected to your account, you can follow its progress in your order history. For every order, and even if you have placed your order as a guest, we will always send a message to notify you that your order has been shipped, along with the parcel tracking number and details of its progress.
What if my order is a gift?
All our products are shipped in elegant packaging to give (you) a pleasant experience on arrival. You can also add a personal message when placing your order. This will be handwritten by our team on a Petrossian card. Finally, please be assured that we will never include an invoice in the package. There will only be a list of the products, and no details of pricing.
Questions about your account
Why should I create an account?
Connecting to your customer account will allow you to follow the progress of your orders, keep a record of your previous online purchases, and manage your personal information (address book, downloading your invoices, registering for our newsletter). You can also leave your opinions and comments about the products ordered.
How do I create an account?
To do this, click on “Create an Account” which is at the top-right of our home page (on a computer), or at the bottom of the menu (on a mobile).
I’ve lost my password, what should I do?
If you have forgotten your password, click on the “Forgot your Password?” link on the login page for your account. We will send you an email with a link to create a new password.
If you don’t receive our email, it may be in your “Spam” folder.
Questions about paying for your order
What payment methods are accepted?
You can pay for your order by bank card (Visa, MasterCard and American Express) using our secure platform. Please contact our Customer Service if you would like to pay by cheque.
We do not accept bank transfers.
Is paying for my order safe?
Our site is completely secure, and a security code (called “3D Secure”) is systematically requested for all transactions.
When will my card be debited?
Payment for the order is effective as soon as your order is validated. You will receive a confirmation email for your order with the invoice attached.
If you do not receive this message within a few minutes of making your purchase, it may be in your “Spam” folder. If this is not the case, then please contact our Customer Service.
I am unable to complete my online payment, what should I do?
This may be due to the conditions of use for your bank card (limit, authorisations…); in which case, please contact your bank.
If this is not the case, please contact our Customer Service by telephone on +33 (0)9 70 70 59 11 so that we can send you a secure payment link.
Questions about the delivery of your order
What are the delivery areas?
We deliver exclusively to mainland France, Corsica and the countries of the European Union.
For deliveries to Switzerland, Belgium and the United Kingdom, please place your orders via the dedicated e-shops:
- Petrossian Switzerland online boutique for delivery to Switzerland.
- UK online boutique for delivery to the United Kingdom.
- Petrossian Belgium online boutique for delivery to Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxembourg.
It is not possible to place an order for these three delivery areas from this French site.
How long does delivery take?
All orders placed from Monday to Friday before 12pm will be delivered in mainland France within 24/48 hours.
Orders for Corsica and the European Union will be delivered within 48 hours.
For more information, please visit our delivery page.
How can I track my delivery?
Once the package has been handed over to the courier, we will send you an initial email with the tracking number. You will then be kept informed of how the delivery is progressing by email.
How does delivery work?
All our packages are handed over to the courier in plain packaging (with no mention of the brand nor its contents). It is therefore essential that the recipient is present on the delivery date. A telephone number is required so that the courier can notify the recipient of their arrival beforehand.
Is the cold chain guaranteed when transporting chilled products?
All of our chilled products are shipped in insulated packaging, and are maintained at the correct temperature during transit by using refrigerated boxes. The presence of temperature sensors alerts us to any temperature variation during transport. We can therefore guarantee you an unbroken cold chain delivery whatever the outside temperature. Nonetheless, products should still be quickly stored in the fridge upon receipt of the package.
What should I do if a product is missing in my package?
If the product is out of stock, our Customer Service will contact you before the package is shipped. If, unfortunately, you find that an item is missing, and you have not been notified of this beforehand, please call our Customer Service on +33 (0)9 70 70 59 11 so that we can find a quick solution. Some large orders may be sent out in several packages. If this is the case, the courier will hand over all the packages in one delivery. If this does not happen, then please contact our Customer Service.
What should I do if the package I receive is damaged?
If you notice that the package is damaged when it is being handed over, then we recommend that you refuse the package. If this has not been possible, please take photos of the package and send them to our Customer Service along with your order number.
Questions about product returns
How can I return or exchange a product?
Chilled products cannot be returned nor exchanged. For other products, you have a 14-day cancellation period. In this instance, please read our General Terms and Conditions of Sale, and contact us to organise returning the product.
What should I do if there is a problem with the product I have received?
If the product you have received has a defect, keep the product packaging and contact our Customer Service promptly. We will address the matter internally and find a solution for you.
Questions about your in-store purchases
I have a question or a problem about an in-store purchase: how can I contact the boutique?
You can find the contact details and opening hours for your boutique by visiting the storelocator of our addresses in Paris and throughout the world.
I have placed a phone order with a boutique and I have a few questions: what should I do?
You can contact the boutique by phone to know more about the progress of your order, to change it, or to ask any other question about your purchase.
The contact details for our Paris boutiques are below (if you have not managed to identify the address of the boutique where you placed your order, you should be able to find its name on the title of the bank payment):
PETROSSIAN LA TOUR MAUBOURG BOUTIQUE
+33 (0)1 44 11 32 22
PETROSSIAN COURCELLES BOUTIQUE
+33 (0)1 47 66 16 16
PETROSSIAN VICTOR HUGO BOUTIQUE
+33 (0)1 85 14 68 60
For all other questions, our Customer Service is available from Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm via our contact form or by telephone on +33 (0)9 70 70 59 11.