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Similar to the real world, caviar in Stardew Valley proves to be a luxurious commodity. With its high selling value and difficulty to obtain, newcomers might have trouble acquiring this item.
From coming up the mountains in the right season and having the skills to fish, starting out to make a self-sustaining farm for caviar will be a tedious task. For farmers hoping to build a fortune by selling caviar, here’s the Stardew Valley guide on how to do it, just for you.
What is caviar?
Caviar in Stardew Valley is a high-value artisan good made from Sturgeon roe and processed in a preserves jar. Its base selling price is 500g, which increases to 700g if players have upgraded their farming skills in the Artisan route. Alternatively, it can be purchased from the Traveling Merchant’s shop for 1000g to 2500g, although its availability is random.
Starting Out The Hunt for Caviar
Acquiring the Key Ingredient – The Sturgeon
To get started, players need to venture to Mountain Lake in the northern part of Pelican Town during Summer and Winter to find Sturgeon. This species is more frequently spotted on rainy summer days and less commonly on rainy winter days.
Sturgeon are often found when casting lines farther from the shore, and capturing them can be challenging due to their unpredictable behavior. Alternatively, players might find Sturgeon available for purchase at Krobus’ shop on Wednesdays for 200g or at the Traveling Cart for 600g to 1,000g, but acquiring it this way requires a stroke of good luck.
Tools of the Trade – The Fishing Rod and Baits
To embark on this fishing adventure, players will need a Fishing Rod. Initially, players are equipped with the Bamboo Pole in the early stages of the game. However, to increase the chances of catching Sturgeon more efficiently, it is highly recommended to upgrade to a more advanced fishing rod, such as the Fiberglass Rod, which allows for the use of bait and tackle. Using the Magic Bait will enable the player to catch Sturgeon regardless of time and season.
The Art of Sturgeon Farming
The Farming Foundation
Once players have acquired Sturgeon, the next crucial step is the construction of a Fish Pond on their farm. These aquatic enclosures act as nurturing and breeding grounds for Sturgeon, enabling them to reproduce and provide a consistent supply of Sturgeon Roe – the essential ingredient for crafting caviar. However, before they can undertake this endeavor, it is important that the farmhouse has an upgrade to at least its second level. This will unlock the option to build Fish Ponds on their property.
Populating the Pond
Essentially, having more roe means obtaining more caviar. Once the Fish Pond is established, it’s time to introduce the Sturgeon to their new aquatic habitat. The Fish Pond initially only has 1 capacity and to increase its capacity, players will have to do some Fish Pond quests.
The quickest Fish Pond quest they can do is by offering in diamond, which increases its capacity to 3. If players want to maximize their capacity, players have to keep doing Fish Pond quests and eventually, their Sturgeon population will multiply, gradually providing them with a consistent supply of Sturgeon Roe.
Interestingly, players don’t need two Sturgeons in a Fish Pond for them to multiply. In Stardew Valley, most fishes can reproduce on their own. Armed with this knowledge, players can save time and effort by not having to fish more than one Sturgeon, unless they plan to fill up multiple Fish Ponds simultaneously.
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The Preserves Jar
Stardew Valley sticks to realism as Sturgeon Roe on its own cannot simply be called caviar. It still needs to be processed first. To do that, players will need a Preserves Jar. This essential tool can either be crafted by players who have reached level 4 in their farming skills or purchased from Clint’s Blacksmith shop.
With a Preserves Jar at players’ disposal, place the Sturgeon Roe inside and patiently await for your roe to turn into caviar. This process may take up to 4 in-game days, but the wait is worthwhile as players sell these caviar for a substantial amount of money.
The Best Farm for Farming Caviar
If players ever thought to themselves to start a Stardew Valley game just to simply start a caviar farm, then the Wilderness Farm can be the perfect farm of choice due to its convenience. The Large Pond on the lower left provides the Mountain Lake fish which includes the Sturgeon.
This farm saves time and effort from traveling back and forth to the lake at north of Pelican Town near the mining caves. Additionally, it has a lot of open space, much like the Standard Farm which is enough for the players to fill it with as many Fish Ponds as it can hold.
Whether in real life or in-game, acquiring this luxurious delicacy demands dedication and hard work. From fishing to doing multiple mini-quests, the game sets the players up to have a true sense of accomplishment after completing a difficult task. It may be challenging at first but it just gets easier from here on out as your in-game profit skyrockets once you’ve successfully set up the fundamental parts of a caviar farm. By mastering skills and designing efficient setups, players can easily become farming millionaires with their fish empire alone.
Other Uses For Caviar
Completing the Missing Bundle
In Pelican Town, the Movie Theater is a delightful attraction that isn’t initially available at the start of the game. To unlock it, players must either complete the Bundles in the Community Center or opt for the Community Upgrades offered by Morris in Joja Mart. After finishing the necessary bundles, a cutscene triggers, indicating one final requirement: The Missing Bundle. Caviar is one of the items needed for this bundle. Players can stay ahead of the game by acquiring and saving a piece of caviar for this specific moment.
Cosmetic
Caviar, when combined with Cloth, can be used in the Sewing Machine’s spool to craft the Fashion Hat.