7 Rarest Food

We should all count ourselves fortunate enough to live in a world where things can be done very quickly. For example, without consideration, we can simply go to the grocery store and select our favourite fruits and vegetables by the pound. Without being physically present, we can also visit a nearby grocery store by placing an order for groceries on our smartphones. There was once a time, though when it wasn't so simple when things were considered sacred, particularly food. Yet almost nothing is off-limits, thanks to the Internet. Nevertheless, there are several items that are still considered the rarest of the uncommon and are almost difficult to procure. So next time you're in a foreign country, or just off the beaten track, see if you're going to find one of these culinary gems. If you do, chances are it could be the last one.

Posted On March 17th, 2021

Almas Caviar

A real delicacy is Almas caviar. The pearly white eggs of the albino beluga sturgeon found in the Caspian Sea are only collected from fish over a century old; the endangered status of the fish has further increased the price and exclusivity of that caviar. It would be safe to assume, at £25,000 per kilo, that Almas Caviar is one of the rarest foods in the world.

Kobe Beef

While beef is hardly an exclusive or uncommon product, Kobe beef is far from traditional. This meat, made exclusively from Wagyu cows, is incredibly expensive and highly sought-after throughout the world. When you consider the steps that go into preparing this delicacy, it's clear to see why this is the case. Throughout their lives, cows are tended closely, fed exclusively only on the finest grasses, and, incredibly, regular massages are offered.

Fugu

Due to how scarce or difficult their ingredients are to obtain, certain foods are rare, but the exclusivity synonymous with others is based around their production. This is the case with 'fugu'; these wild pufferfish contain deadly tetrodotoxin, and it can be deadly if they are not prepared with the utmost accuracy and ability. For a minimum of two years, Fugu chefs learn to develop the requisite skills to cook fish, which is a delicacy normally eaten raw. While the number of people killed by fugu in Japan was close to 100 per year just 60 years ago, it has now fallen to almost zero - both the buying, preparation and selling of fugu require a licence, and qualified chefs are professional enough to eliminate any risk. However, this does make this a pricey - and unique - delicacy.

Densuke Black Watermelon

Watermelon is hardly a rare food, but it is most definitely Densuke, also from Japan. Densuke watermelons, grown exclusively on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, differ from their domestic counterparts - they are stripless, deep dark green, and have a sweeter taste. They are also highly sought after, fetching surprisingly high prices; grown in small lots, it is estimated that the few melons harvested the earliest sell for over $6,000.

Matsutake Mushroom

Matsutake mushrooms, found in Asia, Europe and North America, hold the distinction of being one of the world's most sought-after and uncommon mushrooms. In particular, a pine-killing nematode cultivated under trees in Japan over the past 50 years has drastically reduced the number of matsutake and pushed the price sky-high. The fungus has a symbiotic relationship with the tree from which it blooms, and will not grow again in the same location - meaning that the mushrooms must be wildly picked. As a result, pre-season matsutake can hit up to $1000 a kilo.

The Fortress Stilt Fisherman Indulgence

The body of the 'indulgence' is made up of a gold leaf Italian cassata, flavoured with Irish cream infused with citrus. The thing that really distinguishes this dish is the handmade chocolate fisherman, sitting astride a typical stilt (also chocolate) that is counterbalanced by an 80-carat aquamarine wedge, served with a mango and pomegranate compote and a Dom Pérignon champagne sabayon.

Kopi Luwake Coffee

This coffee is grown in Indonesia, the Philippines, and southern India in industrial amounts. Kopi luwak is the world's most expensive coffee. Its cost ranges from $250 per kilo to $1,200. It's well-known for the very advanced way it's processed.