10 of the world’s most expensive foods

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1. Oysters

Believe it or not, oysters were once seem as a cheap snack, and were mostly eaten by poorer people. This all changed when over fishing reduced drastically reduced the number of oysters. Today, this seafood costs a fortune, and is only available for the very lucky.

2. Extra Virgin Olive Oil

While most olive oil isn’t that expensive, certain brands are an exception. This includes Lambda olive oil Greece. Made from some of the world’s oldest olive trees, this oil will set you back around $89 for 500ml.

3. Vanilla

Madagascar is home to some of the world’s best vanilla. This plants found in this part of the world have a vanilla content of about 1-2%, making this variety superior. This shows in the price, which will run you around $600 per pound. Another reason why Madagascar vanilla is so expensive is because it’s hand pollinated.

4. Matsutake Mushrooms

Matsuike Mushroom are the world’s most expensive fungi, and go for up to $1000 per pound. Part of the reason why they are so expensive is because these mushrooms grow in a small area in Japan. The fact that they’re highly endangered is another reason why the price is so high.

5. Iberico Ham

This ham come from black pigs which are found in the wild. These pigs only eat acorns, and it’s these acorns which give the ham its distinctive flavor. Along with this, the ham is matured anywhere from 24 to 36 months.

6. Saffron

Saffron is one of the world’s most labor intensive spices. It takes almost 74,000 saffron flowers to produce just one pound of this spice. Not only that, the saffron flower blooms only one week per years, making the process even more difficult.

Source: Photo by Mimmi Lesemaus from Pixabay

7. Fugu Fish

Also known as puffer fish, this animal contains a deadly poison which is lethal when eaten. This means the fish must be prepared by specially trained chefs, who know how to neutralize the poison.

8. Black Watermelon

This is another type of food which only grows in only place in the world, the Japanese island of Hokkaido. These watermelons are extremely difficult to grow and only around 100,000 are produced per year. This makes them extremely expensive, and eat watermelon may cost up to $6000.

9. White Truffles

White truffles are infamously expensive. There are two reasons for this. First of all, you need trained pigs to dig them up (although some dogs can also be used.) Second, these types of truffles are only found in the Tuscany region of Italy.

10. Bluefin Tuna

This tuna has a reputation as one of the world’s most expensive foods, and can go for around $5000 per pound. The reason for this is because the tuna is critically endangered and extremely difficult to find.