Buzz
Envision indulging in a fruit so rare and luxurious that its cost parallels high-end treasures. These are far from ordinary grocery store staples—they are the gems of the fruit kingdom. Grown with meticulous attention, often in limited supply, these fruits are celebrated for their exceptional taste and impeccable appearance. Their appeal goes beyond flavor, embodying wealth and rarity. They highlight the extraordinary measures taken to enjoy nature’s most exceptional creations. For those who can indulge, these fruits offer an experience that blends prestige with unparalleled taste.
10. Taiyo no Tamago Mango
Hailing from Japan’s Miyazaki region, the Taiyo no Tamago Mango is a marvel of horticulture. Known for their perfect form and striking hue, these mangoes live up to their name, “Egg of the Sun.” Often gifted as a symbol of luxury, they can fetch prices as high as $4,000 for a pair. Farmers in Miyazaki combine age-old techniques with cutting-edge technology to produce these flawless fruits, ensuring excellence at every stage of growth.
Taiyo no Tamago mangoes stand as the ultimate representation of mango perfection. Their impeccable shape and radiant color reflect the extraordinary care dedicated to each fruit. What sets them apart is their unparalleled taste and fragrance. The flesh boasts a silky texture and an intense sweetness, delivering an unforgettable experience. As one of the world’s most expensive fruits, a pair can sell for thousands of dollars, epitomizing luxury and exclusivity. This rarity has led to an annual auction in Japan, where the finest mangoes achieve staggering prices.
9. White Jewel Strawberry
The White Jewel strawberry, often celebrated as the pinnacle of strawberry excellence, holds a special place in the world of berries—it’s widely regarded as one of the priciest strawberries available commercially. These berries can cost between $10 and $20 per piece, making a single box a considerable luxury. The White Jewel’s high status is largely due to its scarcity and restricted cultivation. Unlike more widespread varieties, it’s cultivated in specific areas under meticulously monitored conditions. This exclusivity guarantees that each berry is nurtured with exceptional care throughout its development.
In addition to its rarity, this fruit is celebrated for its extraordinary taste. It features a gentle sweetness complemented by hints of floral and citrus, delivering a flavor that goes beyond the ordinary. Its unique taste, paired with a velvety texture, makes it a coveted treat for those with refined tastes. Despite its high price, the White Jewel remains in high demand among those who cherish luxury. From high-end restaurants creating gourmet desserts to individuals seeking a touch of indulgence, this berry has secured its place in the culinary world.
8. Seka-Ichi Apples
Seka-Ichi apples come with a hefty price tag—around $25 per apple—far surpassing the cost of typical supermarket fruit. Yet, their exceptional qualities make them worth the splurge. These highly valued apples originate from Japan’s Aomori Prefecture, a region famous for its perfect apple-growing climate. Aomori accounts for more than half of Japan’s apple production, yet Seka-Ichi apples remain a rare find, representing only a small portion of the total harvest.
Growing Seka-Ichi apples is a detailed and labor-demanding endeavor. Farmers meticulously manage elements such as temperature, humidity, and soil composition to produce these extraordinary fruits. Seka-Ichi apples are renowned for their remarkable size—often exceeding one pound each—placing them among the largest apples globally. However, their appeal extends beyond size; they are celebrated for their exceptional sweetness. Aomori’s extended growing season, marked by warm days and cool evenings, enables these apples to achieve an unmatched natural sweetness.
7. Buddha-Shaped Pears
Buddha-shaped pears transcend mere fruit—they are masterpieces of meticulous craftsmanship. Talented Chinese farmers employ a painstaking process using custom molds. These molds are carefully fitted around young pear buds as they develop on the tree. As the pears grow, they adopt the iconic form of Buddha, complete with detailed facial features and tranquil expressions. The artistry and dedication involved in cultivating Buddha-shaped pears are extraordinary, but they come with a significant cost.
Priced at around $9 each, these pears are the most expensive in the world. In Chinese culture, they are often presented as luxurious gifts, symbolizing good fortune, prosperity, and deep respect for the recipient. It’s not just about flavor—it’s about the artistry and the meaningful sentiment behind the gift.
6. Square Watermelon
Square watermelons are a remarkable fruit innovation originating from Japan, where careful cultivation has redefined our view of this iconic summer fruit. Unlike traditional round watermelons, square watermelons are grown through a precise and controlled process to achieve their unique shape. This square design isn’t merely for visual appeal—it’s also highly functional. These watermelons were initially created to fit more efficiently into Japanese refrigerators, which are typically smaller than those found in many Western homes.
Depending on their size and quality, these novelty fruits can range from $100 in Japan to an astonishing $800 when exported internationally. While the price may seem excessive for a watermelon, many view it as a luxurious and exclusive indulgence, often reserved for special events or as a distinctive gift. However, there’s a twist—these watermelons are not meant to be eaten! They are purely decorative. Originally, these unique fruits were edible, but today, they serve only as ornamental pieces.
5. Pineapples from the Lost Gardens of Heligan
The Lost Gardens of Heligan in the United Kingdom employ traditional Victorian methods to cultivate pineapples, yielding small yet exceptionally sweet fruits. These pineapples are cherished not only for their delightful flavor but also for their rarity and exclusivity. Due to the gardens’ dedication to these historic techniques, only a limited number of these sought-after pineapples are produced annually, fetching prices as high as $1,000 per fruit.
This unique pineapple variety, once a symbol of Victorian opulence and prestige, has been revived at the Lost Gardens of Heligan in Cornwall, England. The gardens have painstakingly restored historic pineapple greenhouses, using traditional growing methods. The pineapples are cultivated in specially designed pits, heated by decomposing manure and supported by a backup heating system. This innovative setup warms the air entering the pits through wall vents. The labor-intensive process takes approximately two years for each pineapple to mature, making these exquisite fruits exceptionally rare.
4. Densuke Watermelon
The Densuke watermelon, a Japanese specialty, distinguishes itself in the fruit world with its striking black rind. Valued for its rarity and exceptional quality, this remarkable melon has captivated food enthusiasts and collectors alike. At auctions, individual Densuke watermelons fetch staggering prices, often reaching thousands of dollars, underscoring their unparalleled allure and exclusivity.
What sets the Densuke watermelon apart? It’s the distinctive growing conditions in Hokkaido, Japan’s northernmost island. The volcanic soil, pure water, and ideal climate combine to create the perfect setting for these extraordinary watermelons. Their black rind isn’t just visually stunning; it’s a mark of top-tier quality. Inside, you’ll discover some of the sweetest, juiciest flesh you can imagine. Carefully nurtured and often hand-harvested at peak ripeness, these melons deliver an unmatched taste experience.
3. Yubari King Melon
In Japan’s Yubari region on Hokkaido, the Yubari King melon is celebrated as the epitome of fruit perfection. Hokkaido’s unique climate and soil conditions create an ideal environment for these melons. Known for their exceptional flavor and perfect shape, these melons fetch astronomical prices. In 2019, a pair sold for a record-breaking 5 million yen ($45,000 US) to Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd., cementing their reputation as a luxury item.
This exceptional melon is celebrated for its incredible sweetness, juiciness, and rich aroma. Rigorous cultivation methods, focusing on quality rather than quantity, ensure every Yubari King Melon reaches its peak flavor. Farmers devote meticulous care to these melons, resulting in their signature flawless spherical shape. Honored at fruit competitions for both their appearance and taste, Yubari King melons have earned the distinction of being the “world’s most expensive fruit,” thanks to the extraordinary prices they achieve at auctions.
2. Ruby Roman Grapes
Ruby Roman grapes, cherished for their vibrant red hue and remarkable size, rank among the world’s most sought-after fruits. Grown exclusively in Japan’s Ishikawa prefecture, these extraordinary grapes weigh approximately 0.7 ounces (20 grams) each, far surpassing the size of typical grape varieties. Their appeal lies in their stunning appearance and scarcity, a result of highly specialized farming methods. In Ishikawa, only a small group of farmers are authorized to cultivate these precious vines.
Stringent rules and regulations oversee their cultivation, ensuring each grape meets precise standards. Government inspectors meticulously evaluate each grape to determine if it qualifies for the prestigious Ruby Roman label. This thorough process leads to a limited annual harvest, making these grapes as rare as they are desirable. Ruby Roman grapes are among the most expensive fruits worldwide. In an extraordinary instance, a single bunch sold for an astounding 1.1 million yen (approximately $11,000 US) in 2016.
1. Beautiful Princess Strawberry
Bijin-Hime, or “Beautiful Princess,” is a highly coveted strawberry celebrated for its distinctive flavor and appearance. Developed by Japanese farmer Mikio Okuda, who has over 40 years of experience, this variety was created after 15 years of experimentation. Despite their petite size, Bijin-Hime strawberries are exceptionally sweet, with a 13-degree Brix rating—surpassing the standard 10-degree mark. They also feature a unique rose-like aroma and a texture that balances softness and firmness.
The exceptional flavor of Bijin-Hime strawberries is achieved through a slow winter ripening process in Okuda’s greenhouses at Okuda Farms in Hashima, Gifu Prefecture. While some cultivation techniques remain proprietary, Okuda’s commitment to quality is undeniable. The labor-intensive process results in only about 500 strawberries meeting market standards each year. Highly valued in Japan for their superior quality, a single large Bijin-Hime strawberry recently sold for an astonishing 50,000 yen ($350) at auction.
