Money, money, money — it’s truly funny, in a rich man’s world.
Oh to have all the money in the world and to spend on the most luxurious things — that would be more than any of us can dream of. Where most parts of the world are riddled by starvation, poverty and going through recessions, here is five of the most expensive foods in the world.
Matsutake mushrooms
Price at $1,000 per pound, this special species of fungi is so expensive because it is very rare. The Matsutake, or Mattake type of mushroom originates from Japan and a non-native insect has destroyed the tree species under which these mushrooms normally grow, so these little guys are few and far between.
Saffron
Grown worldwide and derived from the stamen of the saffron crocus flower, saffron is the most expensive spice in the world. A celebrity in its own world, half a kilogram of dry saffron is extracted from 75,000 flowers which makes up the area of 5 Olympic level swimming pools! All the effort required to procure and manufacture the spice is the reason why it costs from RM295.48 to RM2,954.88 per kilogram.
Beluga Caviar
Now, no list of pricey foods would be complete without Beluga caviar, the most expensive variant. These eggs, cultivated from tiny, white sturgeon and often sourced from Iran, the Caspian Sea and Black Sea basin are priced at a ridiculously RM22,949.15 to RM32,784.50 per 1 kg. Caviar is often spread on cocktails blinis or eaten directly from the tin. Due to its high demand and the sturgeon’s slow growth, the Beluga sturgeon is critically endangered which led to it being banned in 2005 by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service.
Vanilla
The second most expensive spice following saffron is Vanilla. The extensive period of fermentation and ageing that is required to bring out the vanillin flavour in these orchid pods could take about two and a half years all together, hence the price. The orchid flower that produces vanilla pods bloom and die within a few hours, creating a precious small window for natural pollination to occur. Vanilla is priced at RM22.90 per ounce.
Alba White Truffle
Just like caviar, no expensive food list will be completed without truffle making it. Alba White Truffles from Alba, Italy, are the most prized of the bunch, even more pricey than their black truffle brethren. Alba White Truffles are priced at an outstanding RM30,480.30 per kilogram.
