Top 10 Most Expensive Foods And Spices In The World

Rosemary September 04, 2021 | 07:01

Have you ever wondered what the most expensive foods and spices on earth are? Let’s read on to see whether you can afford them or not.

Photo KnowInsiders

Let's just witness some of these ridiculously expensive foods and spices around the world.

10. Iberico Ham

9. Manuka Honey

8. Moose Cheese

7. Matsutake Mushrooms

6. White Truffles

5. Saffron

4. Ayam Cemani Chicken

3. Bluefin Tuna

2. Yubari King Melons

1. Almas Caviar

10. Iberico Ham

Photo curlytales

Cost: $392 Per Kilogram

You’ve probably heard of Parma ham from Italy, but did you know that Iberico ham is actually the most expensive ham in the world? Coming from the rear leg of black pigs, Spanish Iberian ham is a true delicacy.

Iberico ham is a type of cured meat from Spain and Portugal.

The very best stuff comes from free-range pigs that are fed acorns during the last phase of their life.

If you want the best type of Iberico ham, then you need to try ‘black label.’

It comes from the purest of Iberian pigs that have feasted on acorns in oak forests for the majority of their lives.

The curing process also plays a big part in the taste and quality of the meat.

The ham is usually cured for 36 months, which at the end of the curing process, can be worth approximately $392 per kilogram!

These black pigs live in the wild and feed on acorns, or bellota in Spanish. The full name is Jamón Iberico de Bellota. Also known as Pata Negra, meaning black paw, this ham takes its flavor from the oleic acid found in the acorns.

Iberian ham is matured from 24 to 36 months. You can pay as much as $4,500 for a whole leg of jamón ibérico. On the plus side, the ham will last for up to one month once the vacuum pack is opened.

9. Manuka Honey

Cost: $500 Per Kilogram

Got a sweet tooth? Then this is the one for you.

Manuka Honey is native to New Zealand and comes from the Leptospermum Scoparium flower, more commonly known as the Manuka Bush.

It’s believed that this tasty treat has a whole bunch of healing properties, and is used to fight off everything from sore throats to the common cold.

Photo Vinmece

And, it’s thought to contain antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant benefits.

If you like what you hear and want to get your hands on some, then the highest grade goes for around $500 per kilogram.

8. Moose Cheese

Photo curlytales

Cost: $500 Per Pound

Moose cheese is created from the milk of a moose. It’s that simple.

But, the reason it’s one of the most expensive foods and cheeses in the world is that it’s only produced at the ‘Moose House’ farm in Sweden. You literally can’t get it anywhere else in the world.

There’s approximately three varieties of Moose cheese: a rind-style, a feta-style, and a blue cheese.

It’s made in limited numbers and will cost you an arm and a leg for the privilege of trying some.

7. Matsutake Mushrooms

Photo curlytales

Cost: $600 Per Kilogram

The most expensive mushroom in the world, matsutake can fetch up to $1,000 per pound. These Japanese mushrooms have a sweet yet spicy flavor that can be an acquired taste!

One reason why they’re so pricey is that the pinewood nematode worm is destroying their natural habitat. The Matsutake mushroom is only harvested once a year.

The annual harvest is less than 1,000 tonnes. These mushrooms are best prepared with minimal seasoning to let their distinctive taste shine through.

The Matsutake Mushroom grows in Asia, Europe, and North America, and is a prized Japanese, Korean, and Chinese cuisine.

However, over the years, their numbers have fallen due to invasive insects and trees encroaching on where they grow.

They’re extremely rare, and there’s a good chance they might disappear altogether if things continue the way they are, as there’s no way to cultivate this mushroom.

6. White Truffles

Photo NY Post

Cost: $2,100 – $2,500 Per Kilogram

Forget truffle oil; white Truffles are the way to go.

Hailing from the Piedmont region of Northern Italy, white truffles are a lot more challenging to find, compared to others, as they only grow amongst the roots of certain types of trees.

They’re known for having an intense flavor and distinctive aroma.

Their price is primarily based on the conditions in which they grow, how long it takes to find and procure them, and the sheer limited number available.

White truffles have been known to sell for crazy sums of money, but on average, a kilogram will set you back between $2,100 -$2,500.

Black truffles are known as black diamonds, however, white truffles are even more expensive. Found in the Piedmont and Tuscany areas of Italy as well as in Tuscany, these fungi are a popular delicacy.

To sniff out the tuber magnatum, or Alba white truffles, locals use truffle hogs or dogs such as Lagotto Romagnolo, an expensive breed of dog. Fresh white winter truffles cost from $6,000 to $10,000 per pound.

As they’re so expensive, chefs use white truffle sparingly. You can grate fresh white truffle on omelettes or use truffle as a delicious salad dressing. White truffle butter is a great kitchen ingredient to have to hand.

5. Saffron

Photo curlytales

Cost: $500 – $2,000 Per Pound

This spice is appropriately nicknamed ‘Red Gold’ due to its color and the fact that it’s worth more than gold, weight for weight.

The reason it’s so expensive is that the Crocus flower, which saffron comes from, can only be picked a couple of weeks a year in the autumn, and harvesting the spice requires a lot of hard labor.

Also, you need to pick a lot of it, as roughly two football pitches of saffron equate to a kilogram of the red spice.

4. Ayam Cemani Chicken

Photo curlytales

Cost: $2,500 Each

These all-black chickens, from Indonesia, are believed to have magical abilities.

Indonesians think that the meat of the chicken has the power to cure all kinds of illnesses, as well as bring good fortune.

Whether that’s true or not is debatable; however, Cemani chickens sell for around $2,500, depending on their size.

But, due to concerns over bird flu in western countries, it’s rare to find them outside of Asian countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, though it does happen.

3. Bluefin Tuna

Photo River Seafood Club

Cost: $3,603 Per Pound

Bluefin tuna from Japan often tops the seafood charts as the most expensive seafood in the world.

The hefty price tag can reach over $5,000 per pound. A 600 pound bluefin tuna sold for an eyewatering $1.8 million at Toyosu Fish Market in Tokyo in January 2020.

There are several reasons why it’s so expensive. Only Bluefin tuna has intense marbling and a precise balance of flavors compared to other types of Tuna fish, due to higher fat content.

Also, Japanese Bluefin costs more to import into the United States, which will be factored into the price.

Bluefin tuna fish has a meaty texture and delicate flavor. However, Southern bluefin tuna is critically endangered, Atlantic bluefin tuna is endangered and Pacific bluefin tuna is vulnerable. This is due to severe overfishing.

The Japanese MSC certified Usufuku Honten tuna fishery is the first sustainable alternative. They fish Eastern Atlantic bluefin tuna according to an allocated quota.

2. Yubari King Melons

Photo Independent

Cost: $27,229 For Two

Considered a lavish gift in Japan, these melons are exceptionally expensive due to their ridiculous sweetness.

They’re a combination of two other cantaloupes and are highly regarded amongst the citizens of Japan.

In 2008, a pair of Yubari King Melons sold at auction for an eye-watering $27,229. That’s over $13,500 each!

Sweet is the way to go!

1. Almas Caviar

Photo curlytales

Cost: $34,500 Per Kilogram

When you think of fancy expensive food, you’d immediately think of caviar. These are fish eggs known to be one of the world’s ultimate delicacies. According to the Guinness World Book of Records, the most expensive caviar recorded is from a possibly 100-year-old albino beluga sturgeon. The white caviar is sold for around $34,500 per kilogram. This fish that produced this rare caviar lived in the Caspian Sea originally, but now they are almost extintc in their native environment.

It wouldn’t be the most expensive food list without some Caviar, now would it?

One kilogram of this particular type of caviar will cost you the same price as some brand new cars.

Something of an acquired taste, caviar is expensive because fish sturgeon eggs have to be harvested by hand. However, virtually all sturgeon eggs come from fish farms.

Osetra and Beluga caviar from the Caspian Sea are two of the most expensive caviars. Golden Almas caviar from Iran is known for its high price tag and delicate, velvety taste.

Yet the priciest caviar is Strottarga Bianco. Sprinkled with 22 karat gold, this albino fish egg caviar comes from the Siberian Albino Sturgeon.

A single teaspoon of Strottarga Bianco can cost as much as $37,000! In general, the paler the caviar color, the more expensive caviar it is.

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