The California Sea Urchin Commission adopted the following grade
names and standards of quality to encourage uniformity throughout the
industry, to help retail and consumer customers make better purchasing
decisions, and to give assurance of product quality.
“California Gold” - bright
gold, yellow or orange color; firm buttery texture; fresh salty
ocean scent; and with a sweet buttery taste. Uni sections are large
and complete intact pieces. This is exceptionally high-grade
uni for use in top quality sushi. (formerly grade A)
“Premium California” - gold,
yellow or orange color but less brilliant than California Gold;
firm buttery texture; salty ocean scent; with a crisp and nutty
taste. Uni
sections are smaller but still primarily intact pieces. Premium
uni is used for sushi, soups, salads, or combination dishes where
uni is the featured item. (formerly grade B)
“Select California” - medium
hues of yellow and orange or even tending to brown in color;
salty ocean scent; softer creamy texture; with a more neutral nutty
taste. Uni
may be intact sections but can consist of broken pieces of the
other grades. Frequently Select is packaged and shipped frozen.
Uses include soups, sauces and dishes where the uni is mixed with
other ingredients, including other seafood. (formerly grade C)