Historically, the roe of salmon was considered in Russia as precious as the black caviar, and the secret recipe for it was passed down in the family lines of each clan.
It is impossible to reproduce it artificially
Large fish-eggs are colored red as well as the bodies of salmon due to miniature crustaceans that are nature diet for the fish.
It was a widely accepted notion that even the mood and health of a master may influence the quality of curing. The mystical process of salting was conducted in cool and extremely clean rooms.
In the cold of winter, red caviar (wrapped in sheepskins in order not to freeze it) was hauled onto sledge and transported to capitals – European ones as well as Moscow and Saint-Petersburg.