The most expensive vegetable The world's most expensive fruits and berries of perfect shape

We have collected the most expensive products in the world and found out why their prices are so sky-high. Everything was not as simple as it might seem at first glance.

(Total 10 photos)

1. Royal melon

$12,000 each

In Japan, it is customary to give each other delicacies, so this country has the most elite products: they can be presented to superiors, business partners and loved ones as a sign of respect and appreciation.

One of the most expensive dishes is royal melon yubari - a hybrid of two varieties of nutmeg melons (Earl's Favorite and Burpee). This variety is grown in the city of the same name on the island of Hokkaido in very small batches. Melons can fetch up to $24,600 for a pair - that's the price two yubari sold at Sapporo's auction last spring (paired gifts are accepted in Japan). During the harvest, the fruits are sold much cheaper, but it is almost impossible to get them at retail - resellers buy everything in bulk in a matter of minutes.

Why is the fruit valued as a used foreign car? The Japanese are convinced that this is an extraordinary melon: it has a unique aroma and taste, perfectly round shape, delicate orange flesh and elegant appearance. It is believed that its peel resembles ancient porcelain vases with its pattern, so the skin, like the pulp, is displayed to the guest. The presence of a couple of such "balls" on the table speaks eloquently of the wealth of the owner.

2. Black watermelon

Up to $6,000 each

Another elite delicacy from Japan is black densuke watermelon. In fact, it has a dark green color and is completely devoid of stripes. Like yubari melon, densuke grows only on the island of Hokkaido and is a rarity. The record price for it at auction is $ 6,000 - however, it was in 2008. In 2013, the most expensive watermelon was sold at a fair in Japan for $3,500. In the summer of 2014, black densuke was sold in one of the supermarkets in Toronto for much less - $ 200. Given that a watermelon is 90% water, this figure is amazing anyway.

3. Ruby grapes

Up to $5400 per bunch

The top most expensive products in Japan, in addition to those mentioned, also include ruby ​​roman grapes. It is distinguished by its unusual ruby ​​color, sweetness and especially large berries - each has a diameter of about 3 cm and weighs 20 g. The variety was bred in 2007 in Ishikawa Prefecture - it was the result of 14 years of work by Japanese winegrowers. In the summer of 2014, one bunch of 30 berries was sold at auction for $5,400. It was reported that the owner of the wedding palace bought the lot for the wedding of a certain young couple.

4. Diamond caviar

10,000 euros per kilogram

Few people saw and even more so tried the caviar of the albino beluga. The older the fish, the lighter its eggs - and the more they are valued at the sale. The cost of a jar of such caviar called Almas is about 100 euros per 10 g. At the same time, sellers warn that they will have to get on a waiting list and wait for delivery for several months, which indicates an increased demand for the product. The high cost of the delicacy is due to the fact that the beluga itself is a rarity: it is included in the Red Book and its production is limited. It takes up to 27 years for a female to reach puberty. Finding an albino beluga, and even with caviar, is like finding a needle in a haystack.

5. Marble beef

Up to $800 per kilo

Among all types of meat on the international market, kobe beef is most valued - it is tender and fatty marbled meat of wagyu cows, grown again in Japan, in Hyogo Prefecture. Initially, this delicacy was produced in the city of Kobe - hence the name. The price in the Japanese market can be 250-400 dollars per 1 kg, but in other countries a Japanese steak will cost twice as much, not to mention the dishes prepared from it. This is explained by skillful marketing, as well as the amazing conditions of the cows: they are fed with selected grass and grain, they are given premium beer, they are massaged - from stress and for the correct distribution of fat.

6. White truffle

Up to $32,000 per kilogram

The most expensive mushroom in the world is the white truffle: it grows only in certain regions of France, Italy and Croatia, it is difficult to find and almost impossible to save. The National Center for the Study of Truffles in Italy gives average prices: in 2012 - 500 euros per 1 kg, in 2013 - 350 euros, and in 2014 - only 220 euros due to the high yield. But if a particularly large mushroom comes across, it can be auctioned off for a fabulous sum. For example, in December 2014, the largest white truffle weighing 1.89 kg was sold at an auction in New York for $61,000. In autumn, special truffle tours are held for gambling tourists - experienced hunters with dogs help them look for mushroom places.

Up to 600,000 rubles. per kilogram

Saffron is often called the "royal seasoning" - the price corresponds to this status. In online stores, the cost of 1 g of spice varies depending on the country of production: Iranian costs 230 rubles, Spanish - 525 rubles, and Indian - 660 rubles. The high cost is explained by the complexity of the extraction of this spice: it is obtained from the stigmas of the flowers of the crocus seed, and there are only three of them in each flower. Harvesting saffron is a very time-consuming process, and only a little bit is required in a dish: 1 g is enough for several pilaf boilers. Saffron gives the dish a yellow color, and is also an aphrodisiac and antiseptic, soothes, improves metabolism and smoothes the skin of the face. According to legend, in the Middle Ages, one pound (450 g) of saffron was given to an Arabian horse. Since then, this spice has remained the most expensive spice in the world.

8. Bluefin tuna

Up to 8100 dollars per kilogram

One of the largest and fastest fish on the planet, bluefin tuna is also the most expensive. The absolute record for the price was set in December 2012: bluefin tuna weighing 222 kg was sold at an auction in Tokyo for $1.8 million ($8,108 per 1 kg). However, earlier this year, the same customer, Japanese restaurateur Kiyoshi Kimura, was surprised to buy a slightly smaller 180kg fish for $37,500 ($208/kg). Experts say that the falling market price may indicate that the number of bluefin tuna in the Sea of ​​Japan is recovering. However, in Moscow, 1 kg of this fish is still sky-high prices: it costs from 17,000 rubles.

9. French fries

Up to 457 euros per kilogram

The French variety La bonnotte de Noirmoutier is considered the most expensive potato in the world. It is grown on the island of Noirmoutier in limited quantities (up to 100 tons annually) and requires special care: it is harvested by hand and practically never stored. Thanks to the island's unique microclimate and sandy soil rich in algae, potatoes have an unusual sweet taste with hints of nuts. When the first crops went on sale, they were prohibitively expensive: for example, in 1996, potatoes left an auction in Paris for 457 euros per 1 kg. Now passions have subsided somewhat, wholesalers at the end of May can count on a price of 9-10 euros per 1 kg, but in shops and restaurants these potatoes are still “golden”.

10. Musang coffee

Up to 108,000 rubles. per kilogram

The most unusual and expensive coffee is produced in Indonesia with the direct participation of animals - musangs. These animals swallow the most ripe and delicious fruits of coffee trees, and then people pick up their excrement interspersed with grains, process it and make the elite drink kopi luwak. According to sellers, it "has a rare caramel hue, smells like chocolate and is the drink of the gods."

It is curious that once musangs in Southeast Asia were considered pests, until some inventor guessed to find a use for their excrement. It turned out that after treatment with enzymes contained in the stomach of animals, coffee beans change their taste properties, losing bitterness: the drink turns out to be tender and contains less caffeine. The high price of coffee is explained by the fact that genuine kopi luwak is made from the excrement of wild, not farmed, musangs, that is, in small quantities, and the processing and production process is extremely difficult. In the Russian market, prices for this coffee range from 2,300 to 10,800 rubles. for 100 g.

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Everyone loves to sink their teeth into a juicy peach or crunch on an apple. But spending a fortune on them?

website offers to look at fruits for which they paid such a price that they are even scary to eat.

Melon Yubari

Melon "yubari" is grown in greenhouses on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, covering from the sun with special "hats". It is a very sweet, perfectly round melon with a skin that resembles cracks in ancient Japanese porcelain.

On average, "yubari" costs about $ 300, but the two most expensive ones were auctioned off for $27,000.

Black Watermelon Densuke

This watermelon, which has a "special type of sweetness", grows only on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. The peel is dark green, almost black, without stripes and spots., which is why it is called black watermelon. Densuke is sold in special black boxes to enhance its color. The Japanese consider such watermelons a valuable gift.

An average Densuke watermelon costs $250, but the largest one was auctioned for $6,100.

Grape Ruby Roman

This red grape, bred by Japanese breeders, is the most expensive in the world. Each berry is the size of a ping pong ball., and their taste is unusually sweet - they contain 18% sugar.

Grapes cost about $65 per branch, but in 2016 a 700-gram bunch was auctioned for $10,900.

Sun Egg Mango

Mangoes of this variety weigh at least 350 grams and have increased sweetness.

A couple of these mangoes was auctioned in Japan for $3,000.

square watermelon

$800 per piece

These watermelons were created by farmers on the Japanese island of Shikoku. To give shape, they are placed in special containers-cubes. It is very difficult to care for such watermelons, and, having reached the desired shape, they do not have time to ripen. Therefore, square watermelons are bought mainly for decorative purposes - for example, to decorate shop windows. They cost from $200 to $800.

Fruit Boutique Strawberries

It looks like a normal strawberry. But these berries are selected from hundreds of others according to the principle of ideal shape.. They are sold in the luxurious fruit parlor Sembikiya in Tokyo. They cost $69 for a pack of 12.

Sekai Ichi Apples

These apples are the pride of Japanese breeders. They can reach a weight of 2 kilograms! The gardens in which they are grown are pollinated by hand using special sticks. The Japanese consider these apples a great delicacy and eat them mainly on holidays. Each of the apples costs $21.

tokyo store Sembikiya Fruit Parlo it looks like a jewelry boutique - luxurious shop windows, spotlights, glass and mirrors polished to a shine. To make a purchase there, you will have to save money - the size of the average check is rather big. And they sell fruits in this store that have an ideal shape and impeccable appearance. In Japan, they are very much appreciated, but not sold everywhere.

High-quality fruit in Japan is given on a solemn occasion, including to dignitaries. They can be a great gift for a wedding, gratitude to an official or a doctor. In a regular store or on the market, such fruits cannot be found, they are presented only in specialized stores.

For example, a melon in a fruit boutique costs $160. However, this melon is special. The fruits are grown in Shizuoka Prefecture, in specially designed greenhouses. In winter, they work there, and in summer, farmers turn on air conditioners and cover melons with straw hats. Early ripened specimens are mercilessly thrown away - only those that are maximally saturated with the sun remain, acquire a honey taste and divine aroma.

Not only the quality of the goods is on top, but also the service in stores. If the client buys the same melon, the consultant asks on what day it is planned to be consumed - and will select the perfect copy, the taste of which will be impeccable on that date. If the fruit is purchased out of season, the consultant will certainly warn about this, advising a suitable replacement.

Despite the fact that such fruit prices seem outrageous to many, business is booming. The Sembikiya store has a history of almost 200 years - oddly enough, it was originally a shop opened by the samurai Benzo Ohshima, selling fruits at discount prices. The business was family owned and passed down from generation to generation. Finally, the new owner decided to turn the concept on its head and focus on premium products.

When you come across such topics, you usually expect that some unknown fruit will be shown right now (or what the topic is about) and this fruit will cost a lot of money because one thing is just a miracle as unique. And as a result, it turns out to be a slightly sweet fruit, which is generally sold for 200 bucks, but here at an auction some kind of eccentric was sold for 10 thousand bucks. Oooo. The same topic as super expensive alcohol, why? But because the bottle is encrusted with diamonds and therefore is very expensive.

Melon Yubari

Melon "yubari" is grown in greenhouses on the Japanese island of Hokkaido, covering from the sun with special "hats". It is a very sweet, perfectly round melon with a skin that resembles cracks in ancient Japanese porcelain.

On average, a yubari costs about $300, but the two most expensive ones were auctioned for $27,000.

Black Watermelon Densuke

This watermelon, which has a "special type of sweetness", grows only on the Japanese island of Hokkaido. Its peel is dark green, almost black, without stripes and spots, which is why it is called black watermelon. Densuke is sold in special black boxes to enhance its color. The Japanese consider such watermelons a valuable gift.

An average Densuke watermelon costs $250, but the largest one was auctioned for $6,100.

Grape Ruby Roman

This red grape, bred by Japanese breeders, is the most expensive in the world. Each of the berries is the size of a ping-pong ball, and they taste unusually sweet - they contain 18% sugar.

Grapes cost about $65 per branch, but in 2016 a 700-gram bunch was auctioned for $10,900.

Sun Egg Mango

Mangoes of this variety weigh at least 350 grams and have increased sweetness. A pair of these mangoes were auctioned off in Japan for $3,000.

square watermelon

These watermelons were created by farmers on the Japanese island of Shikoku. To give shape, they are placed in special containers-cubes. It is very difficult to care for such watermelons, and, having reached the desired shape, they do not have time to ripen. Therefore, square watermelons are bought mainly for decorative purposes - for example, to decorate shop windows. They cost from $200 to $800.

Fruit Boutique Strawberries

It looks like a normal strawberry. But these berries are selected from hundreds of others according to the principle of ideal shape. They are sold in the luxurious fruit parlor Sembikiya in Tokyo. They cost $69 for a pack of 12.

Sekai Ichi Apples

These apples are the pride of Japanese breeders. They can reach a weight of 2 kilograms! The gardens in which they are grown are pollinated by hand using special sticks. The Japanese consider these apples a great delicacy and eat them mainly on holidays. Each of the apples costs $21.

Dekopon

Dekopon (Dekopon, or Sumo Fruit) is a hybrid of mandarin and orange, which is also bred in Japan. They say that this is the most delicious citrus in the world - sweet, with a slight sourness, with the thinnest partitions between the slices, it is larger and juicier than other citrus fruits. One dekopon costs $13.

Sembikiya is the name given to fruit stalls in Tokyo that look like jewelry stores. Another similarity with jewelry stores is the prices of products provided in these stores. If you are looking for deliciously shaped fruits and vegetables, then you should go to these stores, but do not forget to stop by the bank on the way, because this pleasure is not cheap.

In Japan, at formal occasions such as weddings or business meetings, it is customary to serve high quality fruits and vegetables to make the best impression. And this is not at all about what you can buy at the local market, or in an ordinary store.

Specialty shops such as Sembikia sell only the rarest, most perfect products that are grown under special conditions to ensure the best look and taste.

Prices, of course, are very bite. For example: a yubari melon in such a store costs ¥ 15,750 ($ 160) or, under a special offer, you can purchase 2 melons for a price of ¥ 26,250 ($ 265). Good price, right?

The peculiarity of yubari melon, which is supplied to high-end stores, is that it is supplied only from Shizuoka, where it ripens in special conditions and is saturated with sunlight.
Royal strawberries cost ¥6825 ($68), a box of perfect cherries is ¥15750 ($159), the best apples will set you back ¥2100 ($21).

Of course, such exorbitant prices may seem outrageous to many, but 11 salons that have opened in Japan that deal with elite fruits and vegetables are in demand and are gaining momentum.