Matsutake Mushrooms
Although the Matsutake mushrooms can be found in China, Korea, the Pacific Northwest, and Northern Europe, the Japanese Matsutake is very rare, producing an annual harvest of only 1,000 tons. Due to high demand, these highly prized mushrooms can fetch up to $2,000.
“Almas” Beluga Caviar From Iran
The pearly white eggs from an Iranian Beluga sturgeon found in the Caspian Sea, age between 60-100, produces Almas caviar, which is regularly sold for $25,000 per 1 kg tin. This caviar is so rare, the only store that you can purchase Almas Caviar from is the Caviar House & Prunier located in Picadilly in London.
Yubari King Melon
In Japan, fruit can be considered luxury items and would often be given as gifts. Farmers meticulously grow fruit under tightly controlled conditions to ensure they end up with fruits with the perfect shape, size, color, pattern, and taste. This explains why you can go into a department store or gift shop and see a box of grapes selling for $64 or a twelve-pack of strawberries selling for $69. One of the most expensive fruits you’ll find are Yubari King melons. A top grade Yubari melon should be perfectly round and have an exceptionally smooth rind and would sell for around $200. The highest price paid for a pair of these was at an auction in 2008, where a buyer paid about $26,000.
Densuke Watermelons
Another one of Japan’s most expensive fruit is the Densuke watermelon. Grown only in the northernmost island of Hokkaido, this extremely rare watermelon is dark and stripeless on the outside with a unique level of sweetness on the inside. The first picks of the season can be sold for thousands of dollars — the record is $6,100 for a 17-pound Densuke watermelon.
Saffron
Saffron comes from the flowering plant known as the Saffron Crocus. Each flower produces three valuable stigmas or “threads”. With each stigma having to be meticulously picked by hand, an enormous amount of labor hours is required. As a result, a pound of saffron can sell for as high as $5,000.
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