Craving Caviar? Head to Italy!

Italy then become the world’s largest caviar producer and exporter, although in recent years it has been overtaken by China. While this might come as a surprise to many, Italians have actually been eating and producing caviar at least since the 16^th century. In a book published in 1549, Cristoforo da Messisbugo, master of ceremonies of the House of Este in Ferrara, mentioned caviar and sturgeon among the dishes served at a banquet. Until the 20^th century, the Po River was teeming with wild sturgeon.