While a vada pav for ten dollars or a hearty South Indian thali for thirty dollars are both delicious, wealthy foodies around the world are spending exorbitant sums of money on food for once-in-a-lifetime dining experiences. They aren't encrusted with 24-karat gold leaves, either. So, what is it about these delicacies that makes them so pricey that only millionaires can afford to eat them? We are, after all, here to answer your questions. Here are ten of the world's most expensive foods that only the ultra-wealthy would eat.
1. Caviar
Caviar is the first thing that comes to mind when you think about high-end cuisine. These are fish eggs, which are considered one of the world's greatest delicacy. The most costly caviar ever recorded, according to the Guinness World Book of Records, comes from a perhaps 100-year-old albino beluga fish. The white caviar is sold per kilogram for roughly $34,500 (25 lakhs). Originally, the fish that produced this unusual caviar existed in the Caspian Sea, but they are now nearly extinct in their natural habitat.
2. Wagyu Beef
You've probably heard of wagyu beef if you've watched MasterChef Australia. Simply put, this means "Japanese Beef." It derives from one of four main Japanese cow breeds. The heavily marbled fat in Wagyu beef renders down throughout the cooking process. The flesh is tender and moist, and it melts in your tongue. It is entirely due to the rearing process that the pricing point of approximately $200 per pound has been reached. To qualify for the Wagyu label, the cows must be grown and fed according to precise requirements.
3. Matsutake Mushrooms
Matsutake mushrooms, like Wagyu steak, are a Japanese delicacy. This is a rare mushroom type with a distinct sweet and peppery flavor. It takes some getting used to. Growing this mushroom is a difficult task, which is why it is so expensive. The Matsutake mushroom is only picked once a year, and the pinewood nematode worm threatens to wipe out the entire ecosystem. This is the most expensive mushroom in the world, selling for up to $600 a kilogram.
4. Kopi Luwak
Kopi Luwak is the most expensive coffee on the planet. So, coffee connoisseurs, take notice: this coffee is priceless! It's prepared from coffee beans that have been eaten, partially digested, and defecated by the civet cat or Asian pam civet. It's thought that the partially digested coffee beans ferment in the animal's stomach, enhancing the coffee's flavor. Kopi luwak bags can cost up to $700 per kilogram.
5. Vanilla
Vanilla, your favorite ice cream or dessert flavor, is one of the most costly foods on the planet. But it's the Madagascar vanilla pod, with its 1 to 2% vanillin content, that takes the cake. This is also the world's most labor-intensive crop, with prices as high as $600 a pound. Pollination must be done by hand on the one day that vanilla blossoms. Storms in Madagascar have reduced the supply of vanilla beans on the market, causing prices to rise.
6. Saffron
Saffron is at the top of the list when it comes to expensive spices. The labor-intensive Saffron crocus (Crocus sativa) blossoms are only grown for seven days each year in the autumn. After that, the blossoms are hand-picked and gently roasted to dry. In Asia and the Mediterranean, saffron is abundantly farmed. This flavorful spice, which can be used in a number of cuisines, has a distinct, sweet flavor that reminds you of royalty. Saffron costs more than $500 per ounce.
7. Ayam Cemani Black Chicken
Ayam Cemani Black chicken, often known as the Goth chicken, is raised in Indonesia. The skin, meat, bones, and organs of this chicken are all black. It's an exceedingly rare chicken breed, with one chick of this variety is priced over $200 in Indonesia. Thousands of dollars can be paid outside of Indonesia. Due to a fear of avian flu, exports of Ayam Cemani Black chicken are prohibited.
8. Moose Cheese
Surprisingly, cheese is one of the most stolen foods on the planet. Exotic cheese is frequently auctioned at absurdly high prices. Moose cheese is one of the most expensive cheese varieties available. It's made at Sweden's Moose House Farm. It's made with the 5 litres of milk that each moose produces every day from May through September. Only Gullan, Haelga, and Juno's milk is used. The farm can only sell about 300 kilograms of cheese per year, and each kilogram costs roughly $1074.
9. Iberian Ham
Iberian ham is considered a delicacy and is widely regarded as the best ham in the world. It's made from the back legs of black pigs fed acorns, called bellota in Spanish. The acorns contain oleic acid, which gives the ham its flavor. This ham has a deep crimson color and a flavor that is distinctively rich. It has a maturation period of 24 to 36 months. For a whole leg of Iberian ham, you'd have to pay up to $4,500.
10. Black Watermelon
You would have devoured green watermelon, but what exactly is black watermelon? That is a peculiar fruit from Japan, and it is one of the most costly food items on the planet. This fruit, also known as Densuke Melon, has a crisp texture. These watermelons, which are grown on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, require a lot of space and care. If you're wondering, Incae aren't black, but rather a dark shade of green that seems black. Each year, only 1,00,000 black watermelons are available, and due to their scarcity, they can sell for up to $6,000 at auction. In Japan, black watermelons are a cherished present for special events such as weddings.
