Caviar spoons are traditionally made of inert materials, such as animal horn, gold, mother of pearl, [1] and wood. [2] They range in length from 7 to 13 cm (2.7 to 5 in), and have a small shallow bowl that may be either oval or paddle shaped and a flat handle. [3]
There is a custom that caviar should not be served with a metal spoon, because metal may impart an undesirable flavour. [4] Though caviar is stored and sold in metal tins, non-reactive interior linings are put in place to prevent any adverse effects. [5] Silver spoons are reactive, however, and thus may affect the flavor. [6]
A caviar knife is frequently sold together with the spoon. It is a 5 inches long flat knife with a bulbous tip, typically also made of a fancy material like mother-of-pearl. [7]