Ordering caviar for an event brings a very specific anxiety: order too little, and it looks stingy or runs out embarrassingly fast. Order too much, and you’re either wasting an expensive product or storing leftovers that won’t hold their quality for long. The good news is that caviar portioning follows fairly predictable rules once you know them.
The Standard Portion Guideline
As a general rule, 30 grams of caviar serves 1 to 2 people as a tasting portion within a larger spread of canapés and accompaniments. This might sound small, but caviar is designed to be savoured in small quantities rather than eaten in large portions — its rich, concentrated flavour means a little genuinely goes a long way.
Try our Salmon Caviar Pearls.
Portion Sizes by Occasion
| Occasion | Recommended Amount | Servings |
|---|---|---|
| Intimate tasting (2 people) | 30g | 1–2 tasting portions each |
| Small dinner party (4–6 people) | 50–100g | Shared tasting course |
| Cocktail party (10–15 guests) | 125–150g | Canapé-style bites |
| Larger celebration (20+ guests) | 250g+ | Multiple serving stations |
These figures assume caviar is served as one element of a broader spread — canapés, blinis, other appetisers — rather than as the sole dish of the evening. If caviar is the centrepiece of the tasting itself (a dedicated caviar course), lean toward the higher end of these ranges.
Factors That Change the Math
- Guest familiarity: First-time tasters typically take smaller portions out of unfamiliarity, while caviar enthusiasts will eat considerably more — know your crowd
- Serving format: Canapé-style service (small bites with toppings) stretches caviar further than a straight tasting spoon service
- Time of event: A pre-dinner tasting needs less than an extended, multi-hour cocktail evening where guests return for seconds
- Type of caviar: Because Beluga is richer and more filling per bite, slightly less is needed per person compared to a lighter salmon roe
Chef’s Recommendation
When in doubt, order slightly on the higher end of the range rather than the lower — running out of caviar mid-event is a far more noticeable misstep than having a small amount left over. Any leftover caviar, if stored properly and consumed within 2–3 days, is far from wasted; treat it as an excuse for a smaller second tasting the following evening.
“Caviar portioning isn’t about filling people up — it’s about giving everyone a genuine, unhurried taste. Quality of the moment matters more than quantity on the plate.”
Building Your Order Around the Guest List
For a dinner party of six, a good starting point is a 100g tin split across the table with blinis and crème fraîche, giving each guest a generous multi-bite tasting without excess. For a larger cocktail-style gathering, splitting the order across a couple of smaller tins (rather than one very large one) also helps manage freshness if service runs over a few hours.
Ordering the Right Amount, Every Time
Meatigo offers multiple tin sizes specifically to make this kind of planning simple — from 30g entry-level tins for intimate tastings to larger formats for bigger celebrations. Match your order to your guest list using the guidelines above, and your gourmet evening will feel generous without a single gram going to waste.
