3 most expensive fruits of the world
Who doesn't love snacking on berries or having a glass of fresh fruit juice on a summer afternoon? Fruits are an essential part of our diet and contribute to nutrition since they are abundant in fibre, vitamin C, and water. But did you know that India possesses the distinction of being the second-largest producer of fruits in the world? This is due to our diversified climate ranging from the freezing Himalayan belt to the boiling hot tropical belt in Southern India. Star fruit grown in southern India, Camachile grown in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharashtra, fingered citron from northeast India, or Langsat from Nilgiri hills, are some of the exotic fruits grown in India. And they can be expensive too. Can you believe that there are fruits worth millions that are cultivated in the world? Let’s explore a few.
A Buddha-shaped pear
The adorable laughing Buddha-shaped pear, which costs $9 (Rs 680) for one little fruit, is one of the most expensive fruits in the world? Yes, paying so much for a tiny pear can seem absurd, but this pear's shape and natural carving make it so pricey! A Chinese farmer named Xianzhang Hao was inspired after seeing jelly being molded into different shapes. He came up with the thought of growing pears in the form of Buddha in 2006. He developed these tiny pears on his farm in the Chinese province of Hebei, using complex moulds that shape the fruit into a Buddha statue! These exotic Buddha-shaped pears first emerged in the market on 10th September, 2009. They have been in high demand since then as people believe they bring good luck in addition to being cute!
Ruby Roman Grapes
How much do you think can the costliest bunch of grapes cost? Well, the cost of the most expensive grapes in the world—is Rs 3,02,450 (4000 dollars) for just a few grapes. Crazy, isn’t it? Cultivated and sold in Ishikawa Prefecture of Japan, Ruby Roman table grapes are around the size of a ping-pong ball and are ruby red in colour! A group of winegrowers in Ishikawa, Japan, began their efforts by planting more than 400 experimental vines to create a huge red grape variety in 1995. Out of 400, only four vines yielded red grapes, and only one matched the breeders' standards. Over the next 14 years, breeders worked on selective breeding, expanding the size, improving the taste and color, and making them easier to grow and cultivate. Finally, in 2008, a 700-gram cluster of the Ruby Roman grapes made its spectacular debut and was sold for 10,000 Yen ($910 US). But why are these grapes so pricey? These huge ping-pong ball-sized grapes are uniform in size, shape, and feel. These grapes are so expensive in the world because of their exceptionally sweet flavour. They require tremendous care.
Taiyo no Tamago Mangoes
It will be injustice if we don’t mention the king of fruits while discussing fruits. Well, the Taiyo no Tamago mangoes are among the best and most expensive mangoes costing Rs 2,26,837, for just two mangoes! Mangoes of the Taiyo no Tamago (Egg of the Sun) variety are cultivated in the Miyazaki prefecture and supplied across Japan. The extreme care put into nurturing these fruits contributes to their high price. Each mango is surrounded by a tiny net used by Japanese farmers, which protects the fruit when it falls from the tree and allows sunlight to reach the skin from all directions, giving it a consistent, ruby-red colour. The best flavour is obtained by letting the mangoes ripen and fall naturally rather than physically harvesting them. They are incredibly juicy, have very little fibrousness, and nearly melt in your mouth. They are grown for the custom of gift-giving as a sign of respect in Japanese tradition.