Hackleback (American Shovelnose)

Scaphirhynchus platorynchus

Mississippi River Basin, USA·United States·Accessible

America's last commercially wild-harvested sturgeon roe. Small, jet-black, glossy beads with a snappy pop and a clean briny finish. Underrated and underpriced — a dependable everyday black caviar with genuine sturgeon character.

Salinity
3Butteriness
2Nuttiness
2Umami
3Complexity
2
Pop
firm
Finish
Briny
Texture
firm
Grain
small
Colour
jet black
Blini service
Recommended

Affordable and sturdy; a great everyday blini topper. The firm bead holds up well under heat and dairy.

Pairings

Champagne
Brut NV Champagne
Wine
Sauvignon Blanc
Spirits
Chilled vodka

Production

Source
wild (regulated US)
Producer
US river fisheries (Mississippi basin)
Processing
malossol
Grade
wild

Legal & sourcing

American shovelnose sturgeon — CITES Appendix II listed but legally wild-harvested and sold under US state fishery permits.

CITES Appendix II — international trade requires documentation. Wild harvest is banned; all commercial product is farmed.

At a menu

Best-value true American sturgeon roe — small, jet-black, dependable.

Similar varieties
Taste it tonight
Where to buy

Setting the table? The Caviar Service

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Common questions

What does Hackleback (American Shovelnose) taste like?

America's last commercially wild-harvested sturgeon roe. Small, jet-black, glossy beads with a snappy pop and a clean briny finish. Underrated and underpriced — a dependable everyday black caviar with genuine sturgeon character. On Roemance's 1–5 scale it rates salinity 3, butteriness 2, nuttiness 2, umami 3, and complexity 2, with a briny finish and a firm texture.

What should I drink with Hackleback (American Shovelnose)?

Brut NV Champagne, Sauvignon Blanc, Chilled vodka. Serve it with blini, deviled eggs, potato.

Is Hackleback (American Shovelnose) legal to buy in the United States?

Yes. American shovelnose sturgeon — CITES Appendix II listed but legally wild-harvested and sold under US state fishery permits. The species is listed on CITES Appendix II, so international trade requires documentation and all commercial product is farmed.

Where does Hackleback (American Shovelnose) come from?

Hackleback (American Shovelnose) is wild (regulated US) in Mississippi River Basin, USA (United States), from Scaphirhynchus platorynchus, cured malossol and graded wild.

Does Hackleback (American Shovelnose) work on blini?

Yes — Affordable and sturdy; a great everyday blini topper. The firm bead holds up well under heat and dairy.