The results of The Black Pearl Awards
2026
Official results · 10 March 2026 · Gstaad
The 2026 laureates
Six chefs, one blind tasting, one 100-point grid. These are the caviars that earned a Black Pearl at the first edition of the Awards.
Black Pearl Award · Master of Excellence
Cavian Beluga Imperial Huso Huso
The highest score of the 2026 competition, for an unpasteurised Beluga: sturgeon roe and salt, nothing else.
Category I
Fresh caviar
Siberian
Elegance Award
Ossetra
Distinction Award
Hybrid
Refinement Award
Beluga
Excellence Award
Category II
Fresh with E285
Siberian
Elegance AwardOssetra
Distinction Award
Hybrid
Refinement AwardBeluga
Excellence AwardSpecial distinctions
Beyond the tin
Rising Star
New producers · under 15 years
Innovation & Design
Packaging & brand personality
Only caviars scoring above 60/100 appear in the final rankings.
Method
How the 2026 results were decided
Every caviar was opened in a separate room, out of sight of the jury, and served on identical mother-of-pearl plates marked only with a code. No brand, no tin, no origin.
Six chefs tasted each sample blind and scored it on the same 100-point grid. The published score is calculated from the six chefs’ marks. Every producer entered on the same terms and paid the same fees, whoever distributes its caviar.
The founder of The Black Pearl Awards does not sit on the jury and takes no part in scoring. Individual score sheets remain confidential: they belong to the chefs.
Coded plates, opened out of sight
Michelin and GaultMillau kitchens
Points on one shared grid
Same terms and fees for every producer
The 2027 edition · 16 March · Gstaad
Put your caviar before the chefs.
Explore the 2026 edition
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