Beluga Caviar - This is the most expensive of caviars and is the roe (eggs) of the Beluga sturgeon found mainly in the Caspian Sea. The roes range from light blue to black - the lighter colours coming from older fish and more highly valued. Beluga Caviar is priced at US$ 5000 (Rs. 2 lakhs) in the United States.
Kobe Beef - Kobe Beef is a gourmet's delight for its flavour, tenderness and fatty "marbled" texture. The Wagayu cattle (Tajima-Ushi) for Kobe Beef is reared for twelve years according to strict Hyogo traditions of Japan. The cattle are fed apples and beer everyday and given massages with Sake. The price - around US$ 500 per kilo (Rs 20,000).
Truffles - Truffles are a rare and delicate type of edible mushroom that grow mainly in France, Italy, Croatia and Slovenia. Truffles grow underground among the roots of oak, elm, chestnut, pine and willow trees where they form a symbiotic relationship with their environment. Duplicating these conditions for growing truffles commercially is not feasible or cost-effective on a wide scale, hence their high price. The taste of a truffle is often compared to garlic blended with an earthiness or pungent mushroomy flavor. They are most often served uncooked, shaved into foods like pasta, salad or omelets. They are also served in light sauces, on fondue or even on pizza. Truffles cost around US$ 500 (Rs 20,000). The most expensive variety costs around US$ 12,000 (Rs 4.8 lakhs).
Darjeeling Tea - Darjeeling produces 1 million kilos in a good year, which is less than 1% of India's tea production. Individual Darjeeling teas are often as recognizably unique as human personalities. First Flush (a puckery young tea, almost as light as any green but, unlike greens, flamboyantly aromatic) Darjeeling is the world's costliest tea. Makaibari0Tea Estate produces one of the most expensive teas in the world - Rs 24,00o or (US$ 600) per kilo.
Moose Cheese - The most expensive cheese in the world, believe it or not, is not French but Swedish and is made from moose milk. The cheese comes from the milk of three moose cows, named Gullan, Haelga, and Juna. It is expensive because it takes around two hours to milk a cow producing five litres of milk and only between May and September every year. The price is around US$ 2000 (Rs 80,000) per kilo.
Krug Champagne "Clos De Mesnil" - As a Champagne, it is distinctive and easily recognised by taste because of complete barrel fermentation. Krug is identified by its strongly developed and aged nutty lees influence and autolytic notes on the nose, a certain oakiness, as well as a combination of disgorgement freshness and oxidative maturity. On the palate, Krug wines commonly display a raciness. It is one of the most obviously oaky of Champagnes and is almost always invariably dry. The price? Around US$ 1000 (Rs 40,000) for 750 ml.
Saffron - Widely used in Biryanis, sweets, kormas, milk based drinks, Saffron has been used for the last 3000 years. Iran is the largest producer and in India it is grown in Kashmir. This is the most expensive spice in the world and it is obtained by plucking stigmas from the Saffron crocus. It is hand-picked and that is why it is so expensive. Prices can go up upto Rs 100,000 for a kilo.
