In Tunisia, Mohamed cracks and scrapes at snails to make authentic Tyrian purple dye. Farther south in Uganda, Akello pounds and grinds nuts by hand to make silky, luxurious East African shea butter.
Hot-air balloons have been around for centuries. They're certified aircraft for those looking to take the slow and scenic route, but owning one can set you back considerably — 30,000 euros for a smaller balloon and 150,000 euros for a larger one.
In Uruguay, Renato sets off an explosive to reveal an ancient, glittery stone: amethyst. In Italy, Enrico cuts slabs off of one of the most expensive marbles in the world: Calacatta.
Colatura di alici, which is Italian for "anchovy drippings," is a traditional sauce produced by fermenting salted anchovies inside small chestnut barrels. It's prized for its umami flavor and very expensive, selling for $160 a liter.
Grown exclusively in the Mie Prefecture in Japan, Matsusaka cattle are raised so their fat achieves the lowest melting point possible. The finest cuts of Matsusaka wagyu have a melting point of 12 degrees Celsius, 8 degrees lower than Kobe.
From the purest form of maple syrup, extracted drop by drop from trees in New York, to the finest polished-rice sake, crafted by Japan's youngest female sake brewmaster, we uncovered the stories behind some of the world's most expensive foods.
Founded in 1643 in France, Trudon is one of the oldest candle manufacturers in the world. Its candles lined Marie Antoinette's bedroom and the churches of Paris. Today, prices range from $48 for one taper candle to $660 for a "great"-sized jarred candle. Its legacy isn't the only thing behind that hefty price tag.
Nutmeg and mace are two separate spices found in the same fruit. Both have long been valued for their fragrance, flavor, and medicinal properties. India is the lead consumer of nutmeg as well as one of the top global suppliers.
Amethyst is one of the most abundant crystals in the world, but the most prized pieces can cost almost a million dollars. Some of the world's largest amethyst geodes come out of Artigas, Uruguay. The earth beneath this region is uniquely suited to producing amethyst.
Huitlacoche, also known as the "Mexican truffle," is an edible fungus that forms on undeveloped corn ears and sells for as much as $40 a pound.