You've heard of eating snakes and lizards. Now, caviar extracted from snail's eggs has started to emerge in Paris restaurants. But those wanting a taste need to be prepared to pay a premium price.

Did you celebrate New Year with caviar?

Given its high price in the West, caviar is synonymous with luxury and wealth. In Russia and other Eastern European cultures, though still expensive, caviar is commonly served at holiday feasts, weddings, and other festive occasions.

Sturgeon-derived caviar is generally not eaten by Jews who keep kosher, because sturgeon lacks scales and thus is not considered kosher; however, this does not apply to every roe-yielding fish species.

In Islam all sea or river animals such as fish are lawful and halal which applies to the sturgeon as well as its caviar. In Hong Kong and Japan, caviar may be found on sushi and is often very affordable.