'Tis the season for caviar. Why this luxury food item is all the rage right now.

Thanks to stylish brands like Fishwife and Marky’s Caviar — and influencers like “Danielle the Caviar Girl” — more people are giving caviar a place on their charcuterie board … or even as a solo snack for when you’re craving a slightly briny treat with a unique, poppable texture.

It’s definitely not a cheap treat: Fishwife’s sturgeon caviar, for example, retails for $99 per ounce. But plenty of people think caviar is worth the hype — and the cost. Aja Dang, a TikToker who regularly shares her passion for caviar on social media, tells Yahoo Life that caviar is a worthwhile “treat yourself” gift for when she needs a pick-me-up. She likes to add it to her girls’ nights, accompanied by a martini.

Other people are enjoying “couch caviar” — like food influencer Cortney LaCorte, who coined the phrase to describe indulging in the snack without any preconceived notions that you must be fancy. Her idea of a good night is caviar, potato chips and some crème fraîche — alongside a new episode of The Real Housewives.

Danielle Zaslavskaya Matzon, TikTok’s “Caviar Girl,” took her passion for the food to a role as vice president of brand partnerships at Marky's Caviar. (Matzon is the granddaughter of one of the founders of Marky's.) The TikToker, who grew up enjoying caviar on rye bread with cold butter, says that while caviar is a pricier food by nature, she tells Yahoo Life that there are “entry-level options that are both delicious and complex in favor.” (The sturgeon caviar from Marky’s Caviar comes in at $80 an ounce.) And though it may still be a luxury item, it’s one more people are saying is worth the splurge.

“After the rough couple of years we've all experienced, I think people are leaning into enjoying life more and treating themselves,” Matzon says, noting that many people give caviar around the holidays as a present. “It’s the perfect time to indulge.”

Considering experimenting with caviar? Here’s what to know.

What actually is caviar? What makes it so expensive?

Much like how not all sparkling wine is considered champagne, caviar means something specific. Caviar refers to salted, cured, unfertilized fish eggs (called roe) specifically harvested from sturgeon species. While the term “caviar” is sometimes used for roe from other fish, like salmon (which is lower in cost), true caviar exclusively comes from sturgeon and is prized for its quality — hence its hefty price tag. Beluga sturgeon is typically the most expensive — an ounce of it can go for hundreds, and sometimes thousands, of dollars.

Wyoming-based dietitian Shelley Balls tells Yahoo Life that caviar is traditionally harvested by killing the sturgeon and removing the ovaries to extract the eggs. However, there is also a "no-kill" method, where the eggs are gently extracted through a process similar to a C-section, allowing the fish to survive and continue producing eggs in the future.

For people who want the experience of caviar — without the fish — there are vegan caviar dupes on the market, such as Caviart, which is made from seaweed.

How do people typically eat caviar?

There are many ways to enjoy caviar — and social media is adding more to the list each day. Dang, for example, says that she doesn’t recommend food trends like topping your fries or burger with caviar — mostly because caviar is expensive. Some restaurants, however, are embracing the high-low caviar trend, with menu items like a caviar-topped mozzarella sticks and even chicken nuggets.

But if you’re just getting into caviar, you probably want to enjoy the taste of it — which you’re more likely to do with simpler options. Here are the most common ways to eat caviar:

• Straight from the tin (sometimes via a small spoon or even off the side of your hand, called a “caviar bump”).

• Served with a dollop of crème fraîche, and sometimes chives or other garnish.

• Spread on lightly buttered toast, blini, crackers or potato chips.

• Used as a garnish for deviled eggs.

• On top of sushi or sashimi.

Is caviar good for you? What’s the nutritional value?

Balls says that traditional sturgeon caviar provides about 4 grams of protein per tablespoon, which is particularly good given its small portion size.

Then there is its omega-3 fat content, which Balls says is “needed to support a healthy immune system, nervous system and circulatory system.” Omega-3 fats have also been “shown to improve mood and memory, and are important for brain cell health,” she notes.

Dietitian Catherine Gervacio notes that caviar is “rich in vitamin B12 — over 100% of your daily need per serving — as well as vitamin D, selenium and iron.”

On the downside, Balls says that the sodium content of caviar can “quickly add up,” which is why you may want to limit how much you consume at once.

It’s also important to consider how you are eating caviar — whether it’s at a fancy party or just on your couch. If you are enjoying caviar on potato chips and a heaping of crème fraîche, for example, you may be consuming more fat and calories than you realize. Plus, Gervacio tells Yahoo Life, caviar has no fiber — which may leave you feeling hungry, especially since it is served in smaller amounts. Pairing it with higher-fiber options, like fruit or a veggie-rich salad, can help keep you full for longer.