A melon that costs more than a car and the world’s 11 other most expensive vegetarian ingredients
Japanese grapes the size of ping pong balls, Serbian donkey milk cheese, Indonesian coffee and Italian white truffles are also highly valued
While it’s normally the proteins such as meat or fish that are often touted as the heart of any dish, the vegetable components play an equally important role in enhancing the quality of our beloved gastronomical delights.
From spices and fruits to the more exotic and rare ingredients, such as fungi, there’s a range of veggie ingredients that make our foods more pleasurable with them than otherwise.
Often enough though, the most precious (and bizarre) of these non-meaty wonders command a hefty price.
You don’t believe us?
Check out our list of the 12 most expensive veggie ingredients from around the world – counting down to the costliest item.
12. Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale vinegar, Emilia Romagna, Italy – US$200
Aceto Balsamico Tradizionale, a variant of traditional balsamic vinegar is made from premium white Trebbiano grapes that have been boiled down to form a concentrated liquid.
Produced in the Modena or Reggio Emilia provinces of Italy, it is aged for a minimum of 12 years, making it one of the finest varieties of vinegar in the world.
The resultant product – a thick, dark, sweet and complex syrup – is sold for US$200 per bottle and is highly sought after around the world.