Spices add flavor to the food and make it more delicious. Although many spices can be locally obtained and may be affordable to many, some can break your bank account. In case you have won massive amounts of money through a lottery, you may go for the most expensive dishes that use costly spices. Keep reading to find out the most expensive spices in the world.
Saffron
Saffron leads the way to the most expensive foods in this world. Saffron is mostly produced in Asia, Spain, Italy, Greece, India, and others. Growers are mainly interested in using the stigma of the flower. To get a sizable amount of saffron, you must harvest large quantities of the crop. The process of cultivating saffron is labor-intensive and takes lots of time. In terms of cost, saffron is approximately $5000. Apart from using it as a spice, it can also be applied in perfumes, cosmetics, and medicinal use.
Vanilla
Vanilla is the second most expensive spice in the world, which is roughly $200 per pound. The primary produce of vanilla includes Mexico and Malagasy. Vanilla is costly because the flowers are artificially cross-pollinated, and the fruits are handpicked. The procedure of producing the spice is expensive, takes time and labor-intensive.
Cardamom
Cardamom costs around $30 per pound. The procedure of cultivating the crop is labor-intensive and takes a lot of time. The leading producers of cardamom include India and Guatemala. Black cardamoms are less expensive compared to the green ones. The black one is used in preparing heavily spiced dishes like curries. The green cardamom, on the other hand, is sweet and is added to tea and cover for the best aroma.
Clove
The primary producers of the clove include Zanzibar, Malagasy, India, and Pakistan. Cloves are expensive and may cost around $10 per pound. Due to their aroma, they are used to make various dishes. Cloves can also be used for medicinal and cosmetic purposes. They have anti-oxidant properties and are used to treat pain and inflammation. They mainly feature in Indian Ayurvedic medicine.
Cinnamon
Since time immemorial, cinnamon has been used for medicinal and food flavoring purposes. The primary producer of this spice includes Sri Lanka, India, and Indonesia. Approximately, a pound of cinnamon can cost $6. There are multiple species of cinnamon, but the true one is known as cassia. The sweet aroma of cinnamon can be used to sweeten and add flavor to dishes. Cinnamon can also be used to add flavor to tea and curries.
Pepper
Black pepper is one of the widely used spices in the world. A pound of black pepper can cost around $3 in the market.
India is the main producer of black pepper in the world. Apart from spices, black pepper can be used for medicinal purposes.
Turmeric
India is the leading producer of turmeric. The spice is mainly used in Bangladesh, Middle East, and India. A pound of turmeric can cost $3 in the market.
Conclusion
Spices add flavor to the food we take. Although some are cheap, there are those spices that ordinary people may not afford. This blog has explored some of the pricey spices in the world.
