From the rainbow-hued pearl lobsters of Indonesia and the baby eels of Spain to the giant Copper River king salmon of Alaska and Nigeria's cod stockfish, dried thousands of miles away in the cold winds of Norway, we uncovered the stories behind six of the world's most expensive kinds of seafood.
White asparagus, often referred to as "white gold," can cost three times as much as green asparagus. It's colorless, has a much thicker stalk, and is harvested mainly throughout Central Europe for just three months of the year.
Hyperrealistic baby dolls can cost upwards of 15,000 euros. Babyclon, a doll producer, uses medical-grade silicone, alpaca hair, and nail resin, which contribute to the high price point.
- Maple trees can live up to 400 years and be tapped for syrup for decades without harming the tree
- It takes roughly 50 gallons of these drops to make one 1 gallon of 100% pure Grade A maple syrup.
- C$18 million worth of maple syrup wa
While standard hair scissors cost less than $10, high-end professional hair shears can cost over $2,000. One of the main reasons is the attention paid to the point where the two blades meet.
Ayam Cemani is a rare breed of chicken that is completely black, including its organs, muscles, and bones. This chicken originates in Indonesia, where many locals keep the bird as a treasured pet.
- A 1-kilogram bottle of artisanal rice syrup can reach $140.
- It's all due to sikhye: a mixture of steamed rice, hot water, and barley malt.
- Sikhye takes days — and nights — of hard work to achieve.
Rice syrup is a staple in Korean cuisine.
- At over $500 a pound, olive wagyu is one of the most expensive meats you can buy.
- There are only 2,500 heads of olive wagyu cattle on the island of Shodoshima.
- Farmer Masaki Ishii feeds his cattle waste from local olive oil groves.
Olive wagyu has been called the rarest