Top 10 Most Expensive Fish Roe in the World

Harvested from freshly caught Flying Fish, Flying Fish Roe is a rare and expensive delicacy worldwide. This fish is widely loved in Japan, where chefs commonly use its roe in dishes like sushi and sashimi, making it a favored choice among the middle class and above.

The Flying Fish Roe is versatile and suitable for various age groups, offering exceptional nutritional benefits, particularly due to its high omega-3 content. Studies show that omega-3 helps lower cholesterol, promotes cardiovascular health, and aids in the repair and strengthening of heart tissues. Currently, imported Flying Fish Roe from Japan costs between 800,000 to 1,000,000 VND per kilogram.

Next on the list of the world's most expensive fish roe is the Striped Catfish Roe. Striped Catfish Roe is sold for a price range of 600,000 to 800,000 VND per kilogram. The roe is harvested from Striped Catfish after they reach 18 months of age and weigh between 3 to 4 kilograms. Known for its high nutritional value, the roe is significantly richer in nutrients compared to the meat and other parts of the fish, which makes it more expensive.

The standout feature of Striped Catfish Roe is its soft texture, attractive color, and high protein content, along with the omega-3 fatty acids that are beneficial for health. Additionally, consuming Striped Catfish Roe provides a wealth of vitamins A, B, and D, which help improve brain function and prevent eye diseases. It also contains significant amounts of iron, calcium, and other minerals that are beneficial for treating conditions like rickets and malnutrition in children.

Sturgeon roe has long been a prestigious ingredient in gourmet cuisine, prized for its luxurious flavor and meticulous production process. Beyond the exacting standards required for preparation, the variety and richness of sturgeon roe contribute to its global fame. While black Beluga sturgeon roe is the most commonly seen, sturgeon roe actually comes in a variety of colors, including orange, red, brown, and even blue. However, the most coveted of all is the White Sturgeon Roe, derived from the rare albino White Sturgeon, often referred to as 'White Caviar'.

White Sturgeon Roe is significantly more expensive than its black counterpart, sometimes reaching prices up to three times higher, with costs ranging from tens of thousands to over 100,000 USD per kilogram. Its rarity is a key factor, as these albino sturgeons are found only in deep, remote waters, making the roe exceptionally scarce and a true luxury item reserved for the most discerning connoisseurs.

Renowned for its unique, golden glow, Osetra Karat Golden Salted Roe is often called the 'golden pearls' of the culinary world. This roe is typically harvested from sturgeon farmed in prestigious fisheries in Israel, where the fish are imported from the Caspian Sea. The sturgeon are raised in carefully controlled environments, meeting exacting standards for water temperature, pH, and oxygen levels to produce the finest quality roe.

Beyond its beautiful golden hue, which glistens like oceanic pearls, Osetra Karat Golden Salted Roe is celebrated for its exquisite flavor. It offers a creamy sweetness that pairs perfectly with the rich, nutty aroma of hazelnuts, while a subtle sea saltiness lingers on the palate. The price for this luxurious roe generally hovers around $6,000 USD per kilogram.

Ajitsuke Kazunoko Herring Roe is one of Japan's most expensive types of fish roe. The roe is pale yellow, slightly elongated, and filled with small, round eggs. It is typically harvested from the uterus of herring or from the kombu seaweed, where these fish lay their eggs. When eaten, it offers a rich, salty taste combined with the distinct, aromatic scent of seaweed.

In Japan, Ajitsuke Kazunoko Herring Roe is also considered a symbol of fertility and prosperity. A single pouch of this roe can contain up to 100,000 eggs, and the name 'Kazunoko' in Japanese combines the words for 'number' (kazu) and 'child' (ko). Because of its symbolic meaning, this roe is a popular delicacy during Japan's New Year celebrations. The price of Ajitsuke Kazunoko Herring Roe typically ranges from 800,000 to 900,000 VND per 200 grams.

Grey Mullet Roe is an essential ingredient for creating Bottarga, the prized delicacy of Italian cuisine, highly regarded in gourmet restaurants worldwide. The roe has a mild, salty ocean flavor with a subtle sweetness, and it lacks the fishy aroma commonly found in other types of fish eggs. Grey Mullet Roe is often served alongside pasta dishes, salads, pizzas, or enjoyed as an appetizer.

Additionally, Grey Mullet Roe is rich in beneficial nutrients such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals. It also contains significant amounts of cephalin (or phospholipids), which are known to be extremely beneficial for the brain development of both children and adults. Due to the meticulous preparation process and strict quality standards, the price of Grey Mullet Roe typically ranges around $100 per pound.

Mentaiko Fish Roe, also known as Alaskan Pollock Roe, is one of the most popular delicacies in Japan and Korea. Mentaiko typically has a distinctive red color and a light, salty ocean flavor, combined with a unique, delicate crunch. It is often served with white rice, sushi, or porridge. Additionally, because Alaskan Pollock is closely related to cod, Mentaiko is sometimes confused with Tarako (cod roe) and is even labeled as cod roe in some regions of Japan.

Mentaiko Fish Roe is packed with a wide range of nutrients, including protein, iodine, DHA, omega-3 fatty acids, and various essential fats. As a result, this roe offers numerous health benefits such as muscle development, improving blood circulation, promoting red blood cell formation, enhancing brain function, preventing migraines, and lowering blood pressure.

Sturgeon Roe is often referred to as "black gold" in the world of luxury foods. This prized roe is processed into a variety of dishes and is highly favored among the elite. There are three main types of sturgeon roe: white sturgeon, black sturgeon, and sevruga. The price of sturgeon roe typically ranges between 180-300 million VND per kilogram. However, for the rare white sturgeon roe, the cost can skyrocket to as much as 1.8 billion VND per kilogram.

Despite its exorbitant price, it is undeniable that sturgeon roe is packed with numerous health benefits, including calcium, phosphorus, protein, magnesium, iron, and various vitamins such as B12, B6, B2, B4, A, C, and D. Sturgeon roe can help strengthen bones, improve skin health, and promote better blood circulation. Additionally, sturgeon only begin producing roe at around 20 years old, making the collection process incredibly painstaking and requiring great patience and care.

Japanese Salmon Roe is one of the priciest types of fish roe in the world, and Mytour would like to share some details about it. Despite its small size, Japanese salmon roe is sold at a staggering price of 2.8 million VND per kilogram. The high cost is attributed to the meticulous process of harvesting the roe, which requires advanced techniques and modern machinery.

In addition to the high production costs, Japanese salmon roe is rich in essential nutrients, especially omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. These oils are highly beneficial for maintaining heart health, reducing blood cholesterol levels, and promoting healthy blood vessel tissue regeneration. Furthermore, for women, Japanese salmon roe is known to improve vision, enhance skin beauty, and help prevent premature aging.

Snow Fish Roe is a popular and convenient seafood delicacy, prized for its delicious taste and high nutritional value. However, you’ll need to spend a considerable amount if you wish to enjoy this roe. Snow fish are caught in the waters off Alaska, Japan. Once caught, the roe is extracted and immediately preserved on the boat, ensuring its freshness and requiring considerable effort.

Snow Fish Roe is a rich source of protein, iodine, and DHA, which are essential for young children’s development. Currently, the price for imported snow fish roe ranges between 1.5 and 1.8 million VND per kilogram. The roe, harvested from the freshest snow fish, is carefully cleaned, seasoned, steamed, dried, and packaged for preservation. This roe is extremely beneficial for health, and it is best enjoyed fresh to appreciate its full flavor.