Even though this roe does not come from a fish species, does banded sea snake caviar qualifies as the world’s rarest form of caviar?
By: Ringo Bones
This delicacy is quintessentially Okinawan, but its rarity is largely due to the fact that the source animal is not only venomous but preparation also requires expertise in order for those who consume it won’t suffer from banded sea snake poisoning and / or invenomation. The dish is often referred as a culinary unicorn due to its rarity even in Japan, banded sea snake caviar is even considered rarer than the Japanese fugu / blowfish.
In the Japanese island of Okinawa, those who know how to prepare banded sea snake dishes properly – sadly, most of them are now over 70 years of age – procure the snakes in the most sustainable way possible via subsistence beachcombing during low tide. During the snakes breeding season, caught pregnant banded sea snakes are often made into a soup and the eggs are often smoked to be preserved and turned into a form of caviar. Expertise in preparation is a must due to the sea snake’s venomous nature and the animal’s venom is more toxic than that of land based venomous snakes.
