Posted :
Author :
While other people are already happy and satisfied after a
slice of pizza, a bar of chocolate, or a bowl of pasta, other people are more
into gourmet food – Beluga caviar, foie gras, saffron spice, white truffle,
pufferfish, among others. These foods are considered luxurious because of their
rarity, the difficulty in their cultivating process, the skills needed for
their preparation, and, of course, because of their exorbitant prices. Did you
know that a kilogram of Beluga Caviar costs at least $5,000? Or that a White
Alba was once sold for more than $160,000 for a mere 1.51 kilograms? Discover
the foods for the elite in this list of 10 Luxury Foods Around the World!
Locally
known as the Jamon Iberico de bellota, which means "Iberian Acorn-fed
Ham", this luxurious food is sold for about $96 per pound! What makes this
meat special is that because the black Iberian pigs, which were raised in a small
area along the Spanish-Portugese border, were fed nothing but acorns, the meat
retains its earthiness. Then, the hams are salted for two weeks before being
cured for another three years! Customarily, it is served by cutting narrow
pieces of meat more thinly than bacon.
9- Black Watermelon
Although
it is very unusual to consider a watermelon as a luxury food, one variety of
this fruit - the Black Watermelon - is regarded as one. Sought after for its
rarity, this type of watermelon is grown only in the small island of Hokkaido
in Japan.
It comes from the Densuke variety, which is known for its crispness and
incredible sweetness. This one is very rare because a typical harvest will only
produce a few dozen pieces. For a 17-pound black watermelon, it can cost you
about $6,100!
8- Yubari King Melon
Another
fruit known as a luxury food is the Yubari King Melon, which is coveted for its
incomparable sweetness and for its proportion. Did you know that there were
actual auctions held just to take home this orange-fleshed fruit? In 2008, over
100 pieces of this melon was put into auction. When the most perfect piece was
finally put on sale, a businesswomen who owns a souvenir shop and a seafood
restaurant bought it for almost $23,000!
7- Fugu
One
of the most popular and expensive dish in Japan is the Fugu Fugu or the
pufferfish. What makes this one special is the fact that its preparation can
cost a chef's life! Pufferfish contains poisonous chemicals that is so strong
that one pinhead can already put an adult male down. And this is not new in Japan because
there are numerous reported cases of death due to the incorrect preparation of
this fish. In order to master the skill of preparing pufferfish, Japanese chefs
have to undergo training and certification first.
6- Bird's Nest
One
of the most unique luxury food in the world is the Bird's nest, produced by a
variety of birds coming from the Swifts. The most common one is the Cave
Swifts, which create their nests by spitting a chemical compound known to
harden in the air. This type of delicacy is commonly found in Chinese dishes,
such as the bird's nest soup or some variety of sweets like the Bird's nest and
Almond pudding. When used in soups, the hard nests usually come off in an
almost gelatinous texture.
5- Ass Cheese
Do
not let its name deceive you because this cheese is meant for the elites! Known
as one of the most delicious cheeses in the world, the Ass cheese is made from
the the milk of Balkan asses around the Zasavica
River in western Serbia. In
order to churn out one kilogram of this cheese, makers have to use at least 25
liters of the donkey's milk and a pound of this smoked cheese is sold for $700!
It is characterized as having a nutty and sweet taste with a pang of saltiness
like that of a Parmesan cheese.
4- Foie Gras
Commonly
stuffed in many luxurious and expensive burgers, the foie gras may be
considered as the second luxury food in the western cuisine (next to caviar!).
The foie grass is made either out of a duck's liver or a geese's. Unlike other
livers, the foie gras is made from large livers (double the size of a normal
liver) containing high content of fat, which results to a very smooth texture
similar to a butter. It has a very pure earthy flavor and can be served raw,
while others prefer to cook or sear it to give its flavor added punch.
3- White Truffle
Truffles
come from the underground ascomycetes family or tubers. Although it has a lot
of variety, the white truffles are more expensive, particularly the Italian
White Alba which is was once sold for more than $160,000 for a mere 1.51
kilograms! This luxury food is marketed for a whopping price because of its
very difficult cultivation process. It is commonly served in many luxurious
food as thin slices on top of other food or as shaved garnishment, while there
are also available truffle-oils.
2- Saffron
Considered
as the most expensive spice in the world, you will have to spend at least
$2,000 for a pound of Saffron - and that depends on the season! This spice is
made from the three stigmas harvested from the crocus flower. The reason for
its exorbitant price is because the stigmas have to be hand-picked, making the
harvesting process really difficult, and a single ounce of Saffron takes more
than thousands of flowers to make. Chefs all over the world use this spice for
coloring and flavoring their creations.
1- Beluga Caviar
Known
as the most luxurious food in the world, Caviar or fish eggs cost for more than
$5,000 per kilogram! Among its may varieties, the most expensive and popular is
the Beluga Caviar, which comes from the Beluga Sturgeon which is commonly found
in the waters of Caspian sea. This fish takes
more than two decades to mature and to be ready for harvest. The fish roe taken
from them ranges from purplish to black, wherein the palest in color is
considered more expensive than darker ones. It is usually served alone or as
toppings to toasts.
~Admin~
No comments:
Post a Comment