Competition Rules 2027
Overview
2027 Edition · Competition on 16 March 2027 · Gstaad Yacht Club at Le Grand Bellevue, Gstaad, Switzerland
Founded and hosted in Gstaad, the Black Pearl Awards are the only independent, chef-led competition dedicated solely to caviar. Unlike industry-driven contests, every entry is judged blind by a jury of Michelin-starred and Gault&Millau-recognised chefs, so that each decision reflects authenticity, craftsmanship and flavour above all else.
By creating a transparent and independent platform, the Awards celebrate producers who elevate caviar through skill, sustainability and passion – setting a new benchmark for excellence in haute cuisine.
Competition and Awards
The Black Pearl Awards celebrate excellence, authenticity and innovation in caviar production. Guided by a jury of Michelin-starred and Gault&Millau-recognised chefs, the competition applies the highest standards of evaluation to every award.
Scoring System
Appearance
- Colour correctness & natural tone
- Luster & brightness
- Uniformity of egg size & shape
Grain & texture
- Firmness & elasticity
- Clean pop
- Membrane integrity
- Creaminess & mouthfeel
- Absence of gumminess or mushiness
Aroma
- Fresh, clean marine aroma
- Complexity & elegance
Flavour
- Balance (salt/fat)
- Purity & typicity of species
- Complexity & depth
- Absence of off-flavours
Aftertaste
- Length & persistence
- Clean, pleasant evolution
Processing Quality & Freshness
- Optimal ripeness at harvest
- Precision of salting & handling
- Overall freshness
Awards
How medals are awarded
Every caviar is scored by each chef of the jury on the 100-point grid. The final score is the average of all jurors' scores.
The Black Pearl Award – Master of Excellence is the competition's highest distinction, given to the caviar with the best overall score of the edition.
Judging
Tasting protocol
- Tins are opened in a separate room by the coordination team, out of sight of the jury.
- Each sample receives a code and is served anonymously, on porcelain, at the right temperature.
- No labels, brands, producers or origins are disclosed to the jury before scores are final.
- Each juror scores independently. Results are published with the score of every awarded caviar.
Categories
Caviar category awards
Each species is judged separately in two typologies: Fresh (unpasteurised) and Pasteurised. Gold, Silver and Bronze are awarded in each.
Beluga · Gold
Ossetra · Gold
Siberian · Gold
Hybrid · Gold| Beluga Excellence Award | Huso huso |
| Ossetra Distinction Award | Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, A. persicus |
| Siberian Elegance Award | Acipenser baerii |
| Sevruga Refinement Award | Acipenser stellatus |
Categories with too few entries may be merged with the closest category; participants are informed before the tasting.
Special Distinctions
Beyond the tasting
Eligibility
Who can enter
The Black Pearl Awards are open to every caviar sold under its own name:
Brands and private labels compete on equal terms with producers. The award is issued to the brand name under which the caviar is sold.
- CITES compliance: every tin must carry its CITES code on the label (species, source, country of origin, year, registration code of the producing or repackaging plant, lot number), proving that the producer or repacker holds the required permits. Entries must be legally traded. No code, no entry.
- Declared origin: species, country of origin and source farm are declared at registration and kept confidential from the jury.
- Sample integrity: samples are shipped in compliance with cold-chain requirements and arrive sealed.
- Packaging: sealed tins, jars or containers of 100 g minimum.
Entry Rules
Entries & exclusions
Independence
Governance
- Samples are anonymised by a coordination team that takes no part in the scoring.
- Organisers, partners and sponsors never take part in the judging.
- Jurors declare any link with a participant and abstain from scoring that entry.
- Scores are final. Every awarded caviar is published with its score.
Registration
How to Enter
Producers, brands and private labels must complete the official registration form and confirm that every tin they ship will carry its CITES code.
By submitting their registration, producers acknowledge that they have read and fully accept the Official Regulations and Conditions of Participation of the Black Pearl Awards.