Before we start, can you guess which foods are the priciest in the world? You might be surprised to know that a single dish of some delicacies can cost several lakhs of rupees. Below is a list of the top ten expensive foods in the world.
- Caviar
- Iberian Ham
- Matsutake mushroom
- Kopi Luwak
- Bluefin Tuna
- Wagyu beef steak
- Bird’s nest soup
- Ayam cemani chicken
- White truffle
- Moose cheese
Top 10 Priciest Foods
1. Caviar:
What one meal pops to your mind when you consider pure luxury and a little bit heavier on the wallet? For me it’s unquestionably caviar. We all eat a wide variety of foods on a daily basis, but occasionally we will opt for some expensive delicacies.
Each variety of caviar has unique qualities, varying in every aspect from colour to flavour. Like Beluga caviar which is smooth and buttery with a nutty flavour. The hues range from black to greenish-grey. The egg in authentic caviar is known to burst in the mouth and produce the “Caspian pop.”
It is pricey since fish sturgeon eggs should be harvested by hand and rare because it is only produced once every 60 to 100 years, and has the shortest life span as it only lasts a week. In general, the paler the colour of the caviar, the more pricey it is.
- ALMAS CAVIAR:
Made from eggs of a sturgeon (a female albino), which is incredibly rare, “Almas” caviar is the costliest in the world. Originally from the southern Caspian Sea, close to Iran, they are currently on the verge of extinction in their natural habitat. The most costly caviar is Iran’s Golden Almas, which has a gentle, velvet taste. The packaging for almas caviar is made of 24-karat gold and each kilogram of this unique caviar costs $34,500 (about ₹28,00,000).
- WHITE PEARL ALBINO CAVIAR:
White Pearl Albino Caviar is possibly the most expensive food on the planet. Using the Siberian albino sturgeon’s eggs the above caviar is produced; along with a 22-karat gold coating. This very peculiar caviar is made from the roe of a feasibly white albino sturgeon, which used to live in the Caspian Sea but is now nearly extinct. White caviar costs about $113,630 (₹89 lakhs) per kilogram. If you would like to taste any of the world’s best caviar, you’d better have deep wallets!
2. Iberian Ham:
You’ve probably heard of the Italian Parma ham, but were you aware that the best and most costly ham in the world is said to be Iberian ham? Jamon Iberico de Bellota usually known as Jamon Iberico or ‘Pata Negra’ refers to “black paw” and it is originally produced in Spain & Portugal.
The Iberian ham is made from the rear leg of free-range black pigs raised in oak woodlands that fed only acorns, giving the meat a distinct nutty flavour and deep red colour that is undeniably Spanish delicacies. The flavour of the ham is derived from oleic acid found in acorns. The ‘black label’ ham is made from pure-bred Iberian pigs, and the label specifies the breed type. For example, Red Label contains either 75% or 50% Iberian breed.
The curing process is also important. For flavour and meat quality, fresh ham is processed for a minimum of 24 to 36 months with salt, sugar, sodium nitrate, sodium erythorbate, sodium phosphate, potassium chloride, water, and flavourings before serving. It costs about $390 (approximately ₹28,000) per kg. A whole leg of Iberian ham would costs $4,500 (over ₹3,00,000. The ham will last up to a month after the bag is opened, which is a plus.
3. Matsutake mushroom:
The most expensive mushroom in the world is Matsutake. This is a rare mushroom type with a sweet and spicy flavor. This mushroom can be found in Japan’s Tamba region. Growing this mushroom is not an easy thing, which is why it is so expensive. Matsutake mushrooms are only harvested once a year and there’s always the threat of the pinewood nematode worm has been killing a growing number of the red pine trees that provide Matsutake with shelter. It costs $600 per kilogram.
4. Kopi Luwak:
The highest-priced coffee in the world is called Kopi Luwak, often known as civet coffee, and it is produced in Indonesia. The unusual process of manufacture is the primary cause of its high price. Coffee cherries are fed to civet cats (Asian palm civets). Coffee cherries and its pulp are removed during digestion but the coffee beans are not. During this process, some type of fermentation happens, which is responsible for the unique flavour of civet coffee. After a while, the coffee beans are collected from their feces. Kopi luwak is mostly produced on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra, Java, Bali, and Sulawesi, as well as in East Timor. A pound of Kopi Luwak coffee can cost between $300 and $600.
5. Bluefin Tuna:
Bluefin Tuna is one of the most expensive sea foods on the planet, and it is at the number one spot. An endangered species, the largest fish, can live for up to 40 years. Tuna is typically more expensive than other types of fish. It is normally sold for $40 per pound. Nevertheless, by the end of every year, its price had indeed surpassed $200 (approximately Rs 14,000) per pound.
In January 2019, a Japanese businessman named Kiyoshi Kimura paid $3.1 million (approximately Rs 23 crore) for a 278-kg tuna fish. Also a 600-pound Bluefin tuna sold for $1.8 million at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market in January 2020.
For several reasons, the price is high. Bluefin tuna has a meaty texture and delicate flavour that distinguishes it from other tuna fish. It has an exact flavour balance thanks to its high-fat content. The majority of tunas are consumed in Japan, where bluefin tuna sashimi is a popular cuisine, but unfortunately, bluefin tuna is a crucially endangered species that is almost extinct. So, before you order anything in a restaurant, check your pockets!
6. Wagyu Beef Steak:
Wagyu beef, also known as Japanese beef, is regarded as one of the world’s most luscious and expensive delicacies. The term wagyu refers to a Japanese cow, and the most expensive cut comes from Matsusaka in Mie Prefecture. Wagyu beef is renowned for being more soft than typical steaks and for having strong marbling fat that melts down while cooking. Wagyu beef steaks are made from virgin female cows. In 2002, a Matsusaka cow sold for 50 million yen, which is about $400,000, at market. These steaks have a distinct aroma and a well-known buttery texture, and nothing beats the first bite of this meat in your mouth. Wagyu beef is frequently regarded as the utmost piece of beef. Because of the rearing process, the price is around ₹40,000 per kg. To meet the criteria for the Wagyu mark, the cows must be fostered and nourished according to strict guidelines.
7. Bird’s nest soup:
This soup contains the bird’s nest, which is made of dried and hardened bird saliva and belongs to a Southeast Asian swallow bird species. Their nests are virtually entirely composed of saliva and contain no other external material. Some of the most well-known advantages of a bird’s nest are skin smoothing and the enhancement of your youthful appearance and complexion. The expensive price for the bird’s nests, and hence for the soup, is due to the risky retrieval and painstaking cleaning of the nests. As a result, this delicacy costs around $3,000 per kilogram.
8. Ayam cemani chicken:
Everyone loves a good chicken dinner, but this Indonesian famed ayam cemani chicken will drain your bank account! “Because of its high price, demands, and prestige, this breed is known as the “Lamborghini of chicken breeds.” The species has completely black feathers, as well as black eyes and feet. It has black organs, meat, and bones. Surprisingly, despite the fact that they are entirely black, they lay cream-coloured eggs!
Some people think that the Ayam Cemani chicken possesses supernatural abilities, such as the capacity to heal and converse with spirits. As a result, their bodily parts are frequently used in traditional medicine. They are also seen as lucky charms. This breed costs roughly $200 in Indonesia, but it sells for thousands of dollars outside of the nation.
9. White Truffle:
Despite the fact that black truffles are known as black diamonds, white truffles are the rarest and most expensive of all. It is also known as Italian white truffle, Alba white truffles, Piedmont white truffle, and tuber magnatum. These fungi are a popular delicacy in Northern Italy’s Tuscany and Piedmont regions, as well as in Tuscany.
These truffles are far more hard to discover and cultivate on their own because they require very specific requirements to grow among the roots of particular species of trees. They also have unique methods for collecting and procuring them. Locals use truffle boars or an expensive breed of dog called Lagotto Romagnolo to sniff out the white truffles. They are highly known for their unique aroma, taste and robust flavour.
White truffles have been selling for exorbitant prices that can even dry out your wallets, but on average, a kilogram costs between $2,100 and $2,500. (Around Rs 1.5 lakh). The premium cost of these truffles is due to the high conditions required for growth, the time it takes to find these truffles, the special methods used to collect and preserve them, and the limited range available.
10. Moose cheese:
Surprisingly, cheese is one of the world’s most stolen foods. Everyone is lured to use and buy cheese from markets since a creamy layer of cheese on any food item gives a delightful flavour and taste. Luxury cheese is a complicated delicacy all over the world, and moose cheese is one of them and selling upto 1000 dollars per kg.
This expensive cheese is made from moose milk from the Elk House farm in Swedish. It is thought to be the only place in the world where moose cheese is produced. The Elk House produce four types of moose cheese from three domesticated moose named Juna, Haelga, and Gullan. The only time moose can be milked is from May and September. Moose are particularly tough to milk since they require gentle handling and to feel at ease. If they become stressed or startled while being milked, their milk will dry up. The cheese has a pleasant flavour and is smooth and creamy.
If you have attempted any of the top 10 expensive foods listed, leave your feedback in the comments section below.
