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+ {
+ "page_name": "2 pounds of truffles sold for $85,000 \u2014 here's the real reason ...",
+ "page_url": "https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/26/why-truffles-are-so-expensive.html",
+ "page_snippet": "Truffles are known as the "diamonds of gastronomy," and last year, less than two pounds sold for about $85,000. Here's why they are so expensive.Truffles \u2014 which grow underground near the roots of certain trees, particularly oak, throughout central Europe \u2014 are highly sought after for their distinct earthy, musky flavor and scent. They are often served shaved over dishes like pasta or risotto (about 8 to 10 grams per individual serving). There are four main varieties of truffles used in cuisine. Though prices vary depending on the strength of the growing season and the rarity of the type, Sparvoli says prices are, on average: $250 per pound for summer black truffles; $350 per pound for Burgundy, which grow from September through February; $800 per pound for winter black, which grow from November through March; and $2,000 to $4,000 for Alba (a town in Italy) or white truffles, which grow from early October through December. Last year, a set of white Alba truffles weighing just under two pounds sold for over 75,000 euros, or over $85,000. (The starting price of a 2018 Mercedes Benz S-Class sedan is $89,900.) Truffles were in short supply that year, but even during a more season some can cost $4,000 a pound.",
+ "page_result": "Why truffles are so expensive
Last year, a set of white Alba truffles weighing just under two pounds sold for over 75,000 euros, or over $85,000. (The starting price of a 2018 Mercedes Benz S-Class sedan is $89,900.)
Truffles were in short supply that year, but even during a more season some can cost $4,000 a pound.
Chef Umberto Bombana holds up a plate of truffles in Hong Kong in 2006.\u00a0
Mike Clarke/AFP/Getty Images
"Yeah, [truffles] are expensive, but we are talking about the diamonds of gastronomy," Francesca Sparvoli, co-owner of truffle distribution company Done4NY tells CNBC Make It.\u00a0
Truffles \u2014 which grow underground near the roots of certain trees, particularly oak, throughout central Europe \u2014 are highly sought after for their distinct earthy, musky flavor and scent. They are often served shaved over dishes like pasta or risotto (about 8 to 10 grams per individual serving).
There are four main varieties of truffles used in cuisine. Though prices vary depending on the strength of the growing season and the rarity of the type, Sparvoli says prices are, on average: $250 per pound for summer black truffles; $350 per pound for Burgundy, which grow from September through February; $800 per pound for winter black, which grow from November through March; and $2,000 to $4,000 for Alba (a town in Italy) or white truffles, which grow from early October through December.
"Yeah, [truffles] are expensive, but we are talking about the diamonds of gastronomy," Francesca Sparvoli, co-owner of truffle distribution company Done4NY tells CNBC Make It.
Nate Skid/CNBC Make It\u00a0
"The white truffle is the most valuable because its very much affected by the weather and the climate in a given season," says Marco Bassi, co-owner of Done4NY. That's because white truffles lack an outer shell, leaving them exposed to the elements.\u00a0
Truffles are rare, in part, because they are nearly impossible to cultivate (recreating the necessary growing conditions is both difficult and costly and it can take years to yield truffles and decades to turn a profit).
They are also hard to find.
Vittorio Giordano, vice president of New York-based Urbani Truffle USA, Inc., which supplies and distributes truffles around the world, says the company has an army of over 18,000 truffle hunters and brokers globally to keep up with demand.
The hunters use specially trained dogs to help them in their effort.
Done4NY\u00a0
The hunters use specially trained dogs to help them in their effort. "A very good dog to a hunter is the most precious thing in the world," Sparvoli says. "The truffle hunters protect their dog more than their wives."
And for all that effort, there's a preciously small return. "Truffle Hunters are not going to find pounds and pounds," says Giordano. "Each one can find just a few ounces."
In addition to their rarity, truffles lose about 5 percent of their weight everyday, Girodano says, so they have to be harvested, processed and shipped as quickly as possible.
"In less than 36 hours, we go from under ground to on a restaurant table," he says.
Urbani Truffle USA has 18,000 truffle hunters and brokers throughout the world.\u00a0
Beatriz Bajuelos/CNBC Make It\u00a0
Giordano's sixth-generation company supplies truffles to 68 countries and thousands of restaurants. In the U.S. they cater to 1,200 restaurants.\u00a0
During white truffle season in fall and early winter, Urbani supplies about 400 pounds of white truffles to United States each week, with 10 percent sold at retail and 90 percent to restaurants.(He declined to share how many total pounds Urbani ships around the world.) In 2015, an exceptionally good year for white truffles, Giordano says the company sold about 3,000 kilos or 6,614 pounds of white truffles in the U.S. alone.
Done4NY has 200 truffle hunters in Italy and France to help supply its 500 restaurant clients around New York City. This summer, the company imported about 100 pounds of the black summer truffles per week on average. Bassi and Sparvoli say they pick up a new batch of truffles from John F Kennedy International Airport every other day, all year round.
"Purchasing in Italy and France is very tough because we need steady connections. The world of selling is tough because of the competition," Bassi says.
And it's not the money-maker you might imagine at these prices, according to Sparvoli: "You would be surprised by how low the margins are for us because they are expensive for everybody" (though she declines to disclose what those margins are).
The good news, Sparvoli says, is that the rainy spring (in Europe) bodes well for this year's black and white winter truffle season.
"Now we are experiencing high quality and low price, about 35 percent less than last year," she says. "We don't have limits on how much we can import this year. The problem is if we can find the clients to buy them."
",
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+ "page_name": "Truffles: The Most Expensive Food in the World - CBS News",
+ "page_url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/truffles-the-most-expensive-food-in-the-world/",
+ "page_snippet": "European white truffles can sell for as much as $3,600 a pound, making them and their fellow fungi the most expensive food in the world. One two-pound truffle recently sold for more than $300,000. All of which has brought organized crime into the truffle trade, creating a black market and leading ...European white truffles can sell for as much as $3,600 a pound, making them and their fellow fungi the most expensive food in the world. One two-pound truffle recently sold for more than $300,000. All of which has brought organized crime into the truffle trade, creating a black market and leading to theft of both truffles as well as the highly valued truffle-sniffing dogs. The following is a script of \"The Most Expensive Food in the World\" which aired on Jan. 8, 2012. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Ira Rosen, producer. Just a couple of shavings of black truffles from France - known as black diamonds - can cost hundreds of dollars in a restaurant in Paris. White truffles from Italy can cost more than three times as much. White truffles from Italy can cost more than three times as much. Truffles are a fancy, delicious delicacy - some say an aphrodisiac - and, ounce for ounce, the most expensive food in the world. If you go to France and Italy, as we did, you learn quickly that truffles are under siege because they're becoming scarce. Truffles are a fancy, delicious delicacy - some say an aphrodisiac - and, ounce for ounce, the most expensive food in the world. If you go to France and Italy, as we did, you learn quickly that truffles are under siege because they're becoming scarce. They're being trafficked like drugs, stolen by thugs and threatened by inferior imports from China.",
+ "page_result": "\n\n Truffles: The Most Expensive Food in the World - CBS News\n \n\n \n
European white truffles can sell for as much as $3,600 a pound, making them and their fellow fungi the most expensive food in the world. One two-pound truffle recently sold for more than $300,000. All of which has brought organized crime into the truffle trade, creating a black market and leading to theft of both truffles as well as the highly valued truffle-sniffing dogs. Add to that the influx of the inferior Chinese truffles -- masquerading as their European cousins -- and you've got trouble with truffles. Lesley Stahl reports.
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The following is a script of \"The Most Expensive Food in the World\" which aired on Jan. 8, 2012. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Ira Rosen, producer.
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Just a couple of shavings of black truffles from France - known as black diamonds - can cost hundreds of dollars in a restaurant in Paris. White truffles from Italy can cost more than three times as much.
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Truffles are a fancy, delicious delicacy - some say an aphrodisiac - and, ounce for ounce, the most expensive food in the world. If you go to France and Italy, as we did, you learn quickly that truffles are under siege because they're becoming scarce. They're being trafficked like drugs, stolen by thugs and threatened by inferior imports from China.
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Lesley Stahl: He found one already? Where, where, where? He found one? Oh my god. Oh, smell that.
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In the beautiful Italian province of Perugia, truffle hunters roam the frosty hills with their trained dogs, who sniff out these lumpy mushrooms when they're ripe, one at a time, as they have for centuries.
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Stahl: Wow!
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Truffles grow wild, underground, usually at the base of an oak tree. They used to use pigs, but they ate the truffles.
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Olga Urbani: Very rich American people they only see truffles on the table of a very elegant restaurant. They don't see this. Now you know why they are expensive, right?
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Olga Urbani may be the only person in the world who goes truffle hunting in a full-length fur coat and a Caribbean tan, but in the truffle business, she can pretty much do what she wants. Her company, Urbani, controls 70 percent of the world's truffle trade.
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Urbani: When you find the truffles, it's like to have a miracle.
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Stahl: Another one!
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Other countries, including the U.S. have tried cultivating truffles, with only limited success. It's the combination of European red soil and rainy summers that produce an especially rich, earthy flavor. The price these truffles command makes hunters act like they're mining for gold.
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Stahl: So this is $1,000? Just right there is $1,000...
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And it's why the hunters value their dogs more than just about anything!
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Urbani (with farmers): He said, \"I really love my wife, but the dog...\"
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These truffles will go right to the Urbani factory, where they're washed, sorted and either frozen or canned - or flown fresh to fancy restaurants like New York's DB Bistro Moderne, home of the $150 hamburger smothered with truffles. A few shavings on pasta can run you even more. In 2010 at an auction in Macau, this two-pound white truffle sold for $330,000, a record amount.
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Stahl: It's not like agriculture. People don't put a seed in the ground. And they're a fungus.
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Urbani: Yes, they're underground fungus, yes.
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Stahl: So the farmer really can't make it happen.
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Urbani: No, they can't do anything. We can't do anything. You're always on the phone, many telephones, saying, \"Sorry, sorry, I don't have, I don't have.\" I wish I had 100 tons a day to make everybody happy.
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In France, the truffle is so revered that in the village of Uzes, a special mass is held in its honor. Churchgoers not only put money in the collection plate, they also add truffles. There's a reason for the special prayers: Because of climate change, the harvests are down from an annual haul of 2,000 tons of truffles 100 years ago, to just 30 tons today. The scarcity and high prices have attracted elements of organized crime who've turned the truffle trade into something resembling the drug trade.
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Bruno: The reality is, behind the popularity of the truffle lies a dangerous world.
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[Bruno: My house is your house.]
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One of Europe's most famous truffle connoisseurs is the larger-than-life French chef and restaurateur known simply as Bruno.
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Stahl: Is it like the Mafia?
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Bruno: Yes.
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Stahl: Really?
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Bruno: Yes, it's a good name? Yes, the Mafia, yes. You understand? It's very dangerous for me.
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At Bruno's restaurant, in the heart of Provence, wealthy Europeans helicopter in from Paris and Monaco, just to eat lunch. Bruno goes through about 5 tons of truffles a year, which his chefs shave on everything from potatoes to this amazing lobster dish.
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But Bruno says the growing black market has led to people coming to his place not just to eat truffles, but to steal them.
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Stahl: The robbers came and got your truffles?
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Bruno: Yes, they stole 200 kilos of truffles.
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Stahl: 200 kilos from you?
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Bruno: They didn't steal my money! They stole my truffles!
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Some of the stolen truffles, we were told, are brought to markets like this one in Richerenches where middle men sell out of the backs of cars or trucks. But large quantities change hands in back alleys.
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We witnessed this transaction where the buyers and sellers wanted their identities hidden. In less than a minute, 50 pounds of truffles were exchanged for 30,000 euros - about $40,000 - with no questions asked about where the truffles came from.
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Michel Tournayre: There's a problem of confidentiality and secrecy. And that encourages a Mafia-like attitude.
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Michel Tournayre, a third generation truffle farmer, says that local trufflers have been car-jacked, beaten with baseball bats and even killed. Thieves came and stole his truffles, his trees and worse, his dogs.
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Stahl: When they took your dogs, what did you do?
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Tournayre: I looked for them all over Europe. I found a world I didn't know about. It's a world that's rotten to the core.
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Stahl: Did you find your dogs?
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Tournayre: Never.
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But it's not criminals or climate change that worry the trufflers the most. It's China! For years, Chinese farmers used truffles as feed for their pigs. That was until a businessman supposedly said, \"The hell with the pigs, let's feed the French!\" Even if the taste of a Chinese truffle leaves something to be desired.
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Stahl: Let's talk about the Chinese truffles.
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Bruno: Catastrophe.
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Stahl: Catastrophic? Why?
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Bruno: The Chinese truffle is worthless. No-- no-- no taste, and no smell.
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Stahl: No perfume, you couldn't smell it. Nothing.
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Stahl: No taste? If I went to China and took it out of the ground, it still wouldn't taste as good?
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Urbani: It's the truffle itself. It's like eating a piece of wood.
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She says that's because of the way truffles in China are farmed. Unlike in France, where dogs smell when a truffle is ripe, the Chinese rake at the earth with no dogs - as a CBS News producer in China discovered - and harvest the truffles the minute they find them. Which explains why - while the two truffles look the same - the price is drastically different.
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Urbani: Prices of winter truffles is about $1,000 a pound. A pound of Chinese, maybe $20, $30. There are many people, bad people, who mix them. So maybe they put 30 percent of Chinese, 70 percent of...
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Stahl: And they think you won't see it?
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On the day we were at the Urbani factory, sorters found a number of Chinese truffles mixed in with that day's purchases. They were separated out into specially marked red baskets. More and more, Chinese truffles are slipped in with the good French or Italian strains. Experts say it's like cutting flour into cocaine.
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Stahl: But look, your own farmers or middle men, are putting the Chinese in with your truffles.
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Urbani: Yes.
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Stahl: You're telling us you have to be on guard, not from the Chinese, but from your own people.
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Urbani: Yeah, I know.
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Stahl: And then you're selling them.
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Urbani: I know.
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Food importers and middle men are bringing 28 tons of Chinese truffles into France a year. And many are being passed off as the real thing in some French restaurants. Michel Tournayre says he's brought home some slices from his dinners out and studied them under a microscope in his lab at home to check their origin.
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Tournayre has tried to blow the whistle on the restaurants that sell Chinese truffles at French prices, but the police have more important matters on their plate and rarely do anything about it.
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Stahl: Twenty, 28 tons of Chinese truffles come into France every year? Where do they go?
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Bruno: I think I know where they go, but I'm not gonna tell you.
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Stahl: If you tell me, you're in trouble, is what you're saying? They'll hurt you?
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Bruno: Everybody is in danger in this business.
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So we began to look for Chinese truffles ourselves. We found this product that is exported to the U.S. On the front of the can it says \"Black Winter Truffles, product of France\", while on the back in small print it says \"tuber indicum\", the Latin name for Chinese truffles.
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When we showed one of the cans to the Urbanis, at a kitchen at their headquarters, it seemed to ruin their lunch.
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Olga Urbani: This makes us crazy. This destroys all the tradition of the truffle. It's an entire life that goes in the garbage. It's unbelievable.
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American law doesn't require a distinction between varieties of truffles. And this product does sell for considerably less than the best of France. But American consumers are being deceived into thinking they're getting the finest quality at a bargain price. The owner of this brand is Pierre Jean Pebyre.
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Stahl: This is your company, right?
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Pebyre: Yes.
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Stahl: Okay, so we found this in the United States.
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Pebyre: Yes.
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Stahl: Okay, so this says, \"Black Winter Truffles.\"
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Pebyre: Yes.
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Stahl: But it's Chinese.
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Pebrye: It's Chinese, yes. This is... tin - a French product. The truffles...If I make the tin in China, it's a Chinese truffle.
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Stahl: I'm stunned.
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He was saying that since the truffles are packaged here, he can legally write \"product of France\" on the label.
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Stahl: It feels like I'm being tricked into thinking I'm buying French truffles, you know?
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Pebyre: Yes, I understand.
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And there's another problem: spores from the Chinese truffles are infecting the European soil and taking it over the way the Kudzu weed has taken over parts of our own Southeast. It began to happen in Italy, so the Italians made importing Chinese truffles illegal and there's a move in France to do the same.
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Tournayre: They are putting into danger the crown jewel of French gastronomy. If one day by accident our plantation starts producing Chinese truffles, we are dead.
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The great fear for Michel Tournayre and the other trufflers in France is that the Chinese will do to their precious delicacy what they have done to Louis Vuitton bags: produce a knock-off that looks the same, but is of lower quality. But in this case, it could just put them out of business.
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+ "page_last_modified": " Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:28:25 GMT"
+ },
+ {
+ "page_name": "The 10 Most Expensive Truffles in the World (2024) | Wealthy Gorilla",
+ "page_url": "https://wealthygorilla.com/most-expensive-truffles/",
+ "page_snippet": "When you think of expensive foods, truffles are probably one of the first things that come to your mind, and for good reason. Simply put, truffles are stupidly expensive and a truffle hunter can bring in some serious money with high-quality truffles. While there are white [\u2026]What are the most expensive truffles in the world? When you think of expensive foods, truffles are probably one of the first things that come to your mind, and for good reason. Simply put, truffles are stupidly expensive and a truffle hunter can bring in some serious money with high-quality truffles. What are the most expensive truffles in the world in 2024? Here's our list of the 10 most expensive truffles in the world, ranked in order. Needless to say, this 4.16-pound Italian white truffle brought in a lot of attention, seeing as most truffles don\u2019t usually grow more than the size of a walnut, despite experts trying to better predict truffle growth to understand why some are larger than others. During the auction, a Taiwanese food and wine enthusiast ended up buying the largest truffle for the huge sum of $61,250; a steal compared to the millions that it potentially could have gone for. While many bidders were trying hard to take these white truffles home, ultimately, Eugene Fung, a mogul from Hong Kong, secured the winning bid at the cost of $87,000. We suppose that\u2019s a small price to pay for one of the most expensive foods in the world, especially if you have millions to spend.",
+ "page_result": "\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\tThe 10 Most Expensive Truffles in the World (2024) | Wealthy Gorilla\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n \n\n\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\n\n\n\n\n\n\t
We’ve rounded up the most desirable and most sought-after truffles and broke down just how much the wealthiest buyers are willing to pay for them.
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Here’s our list of the 10 most expensive truffles in the world:
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10. 4.16 Pound Sotheby’s White Truffle – $61,250
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The largest truffle ever found was sold at a Sotheby’s auction after having been found in Umbria, Italy in 2014.
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While numerous Chinese buyers offered millions of dollars for the largest truffle, the supplier firm, Sabatino Truffles, turned them all down.
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Although you may think that Sabatino was crazy for turning down offers ranging in the millions, they actually had a good reason.
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Instead of selling to a buyer and taking the cash for themselves, they opted to sell the giant Italian white truffle through Sotheby’s to benefit charity.
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Needless to say, this 4.16-pound Italian white truffle brought in a lot of attention, seeing as most truffles don’t usually grow more than the size of a walnut, despite experts trying to better predict truffle growth to understand why some are larger than others.
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During the auction, a Taiwanese food and wine enthusiast ended up buying the largest truffle for the huge sum of $61,250; a steal compared to the millions that it potentially could have gone for.
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Still, this expensive truffle ended up benefiting a good cause, which is definitely commendable!
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9. White Truffle Trio – $87,000
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This trio of white truffles was the subject of attention at the 2017 World Truffle Auction in Alba, Italy.
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Thanks to a poor growing season, prices had soared and many diners and restaurants couldn’t afford to take part, though that didn’t stop some high-rollers from showing up willing to spend and get their fix of that luxurious truffle flavor.
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The auction, which was simultaneously cast to Dubai and Hong Kong by satellite, saw a decent turnout, but nothing garnered more attention than this Italian white truffle trio.
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Gently set on the middle of a plush velvet pillow, these delectable fungi were the stars of the show and the center of an 8-minute bidding war.
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While many bidders were trying hard to take these white truffles home, ultimately, Eugene Fung, a mogul from Hong Kong, secured the winning bid at the cost of $87,000.
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We suppose that’s a small price to pay for one of the most expensive foods in the world, especially if you have millions to spend.
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8. 4 Pound White Truffle – $95,000
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Although not the largest truffle in the world, this white behemoth is still one of the largest truffles ever discovered and its price reflects that.
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Before the discovery of the 4.16-pound white truffle, Nello Balan, a New York City restaurant owner, claimed that it was the largest truffle in the world.
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But, instead of using it in one of his restaurants or putting it up for auction to benefit a charity, he sold it to the fourth richest man in Russia, Vladimir Potanin.
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Vladimir Potanin’s net worth of $30 billion meant that buying this truffle for him was the equivalent of an average person buying a portabello mushroom.
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Honestly, Balan should have asked for more money in our opinion, especially given that even smaller truffles have gone for much more money!
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This billionaire definitely walked away with this huge white truffle for a bargain price.
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7. 16th International Auction White Truffle – $108,000
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Held in Hong Kong, the International White Truffle Auction of 2015 was one of the most exclusive culinary events of the year and the richest buyers came out in force.
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Not only were guests at the event served white truffle-based dishes fit for nobility, but the entire event ended up raising over $326,715 for the Hong Kong-based charity, Mother’s Choice.
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However, the biggest sale of the night was the most desirable Italian white truffles, which ended up being bought by Mr. Sam Chan for a whopping $108,000.
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They may not have been the biggest, but the proceeds did go towards helping girls dealing with crisis pregnancies and children without families, which definitely makes these truffles worth every cent.
These twins are one of the most expensive truffles to be sold and a lot of bidders fought tooth and nail to try and acquire them.
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Available for purchase during the 2016 Alba White truffle Auction, these twin white truffles earned their place as some of the most expensive truffles during the international event that took place in Philadelphia, Hong Kong, Dubai, and Italy.
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This event was packed with big names like Deana Martin, the daughter of Dean Martin, Armando Varricchio, the Italian ambassador, and Sandy Muller, a millionaire beer baroness.
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However, despite a tense bidding war between these big names, these twin white truffles were ultimately won by Dong Zhenxiang, a Chinese chef and owner of the famous Da Dong Roast Duck restaurant in Beijing.
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We can only imagine the incredible food he was able to make with those expensive truffles.
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After all, you only need just a few shavings to transform a single dish, so these large truffles could have gone a long way!
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5. Monster 1KG Truffle – $132,275
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In 2019, Umberto Bombana, an Italian chef and co-owner of the three-Michelin star restaurant Otto e Mezzo Bombana, hosted his 20th charity auction where this monster 1 kg white truffle was sold.
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Bombana was appointed to be a “Worldwide Ambassador of the White Truffle” by the Piedmontese Regional Enoteca Cavour and is often called the “King of the White Truffles”.
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Needless to say, this guy knows his stuff, so when he throws a truffle auction, the richest of the rich show up for a taste.
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This expensive truffle was caught in the middle of a tight bidding war between bidders from Italy, Moscow, and Singapore, but it was a bidder from Hong Kong who made the highest bid, surpassing any made in the past 12 years.
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At the cost of $132,275, this particular truffle was sold, with the proceeds going to Mother’s Choice, a favorite charity of Bombana, and the same one that the sale of the 16th International Auction White Truffle benefited.
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Despite not being one of the richest celebrity chefs in the world, Bombana definitely knows how to raise money for a good cause, and we couldn’t think of anyone better to promote the world’s most expensive truffles!
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4. White Truffle Of Alba – $160,406
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In 2006, the Hong Kong property tycoon, Gordon Wu, and his wife outbid buyers in France and Italy to become the owners of this large Italian white truffle.
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At the time, their purchase was the second time a bidder in Hong Kong had secured the winning bid at the International auction, but since then they have gone on to be the highest bidders in 17 of the total 20 auctions.
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They seriously like white truffles in Hong Kong!
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While at the time of sale, Mr. Wu beat out the previous record-holder for the most expensive truffles ever bought, the prior being a 2.7 pound one bought for $102,951 in 2005, even his record has since been beaten!
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That said, we bet Mr. Wu was proud of his temporary record, especially as he enjoyed his truffle oil-infused pasta dishes.
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3. 2.2 Pound White Italian Truffle – $200,000
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This big Italian white truffle was sold during the 2008 international auction and it was a wealthy casino mogul who didn’t hesitate to snatch it.
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Stanley Ho, yet another buyer from — you guessed it — Hong Kong, shelled out $200,000 for the privilege of taking home this particular truffle, and given that white truffles only have a shelf life of five days before losing flavor, we bet that he was in quite a hurry to eat it.
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It should be noted that Stanley Ho was a billionaire and someone who could have easily bought many of the most expensive penthouses in the world without batting an eye.
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However, Mr. Ho seemed to enjoy spending his money on truffles specifically, and he even took our next two spots, doling out even more money for the most expensive truffles in the world.
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If anything, we admire his unwavering commitment to buying three of the five most expensive truffles!
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2. 3.3 Pound White Tuscan Truffle – $330,000
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At the time that this white truffle was put up for auction, it was one of the largest truffles to be found in nearly half a century.
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Presented in 2007 on a silver platter at Macau’s Grand Lisboa hotel, this white truffle gained a lot of attention from gourmet food connoisseurs and chefs around the world.
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However, it was our old pal Stanley Ho who cast the winning bid via phone, paying an eye-popping $330,000 for this 3.3-pound truffle.
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This makes it the most expensive truffle in the world, a title that it still holds today, though it does share the limelight with another of Mr. Ho’s truffle purchases.
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Like some of the other truffles auctioned off on this list, all of the proceeds from this sale were allocated to charities across the world, including, Caritas in China, Consortium for Street Children in the UK, and the Telethon in Italy.
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While we could never afford to buy anything for this price tag, let alone a large truffle that needs to be eaten in less than a week, we’re glad to see its ludicrous price being used to do some good for the people who need it most.
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1. 2.86 Pound Croatian Truffle – $330,000
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Despite not being one of the richest people in Asia, with a net worth of ‘only’ $6.4 billion, Stanley Ho was willing to throw down big bucks when it came to getting the world’s best truffles.
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This 2.86 Italian white truffle made waves at an international auction in 2009, when it was dug up in Tuscany by truffle hunting father-son duo Luciano and Cristiano Savini, along with their dog Rocco.
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While not the largest truffle to be discovered, at almost 3 pounds, this fungus greatly surpassed the average size that most other truffles are found.
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Naturally, Stanley Ho wasn’t going to let this most expensive truffle go to just anyone, and he ended up matching his 2007 bid to walk away as the proud owner of this large fungus.
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Seeing that so many people are willing to spend so much money on real truffles, it is no wonder that the truffle trade in Tuscany is continuing to go strong today.
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That said, we are sad to report that Stanley Ho did, unfortunately, pass away in 2020 at the age of 98.
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Although it’s sad to see this Truffle-buying legend go, at least he was able to make the most of this rare delicacy and his record still remains to this day.
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Summary
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We hope you enjoyed our list of the most expensive truffles ever sold!
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Not going to lie, we’re kind of considering buying some pigs and becoming truffle hunters after learning just how much money these fungi can go for.
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Here’s a quick recap of the 10 most expensive truffles in the world:
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2.86 Pound Croatian Truffle – $330,000
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3.3 Pound White Tuscan Truffle – $330,000
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2.2 Pound White Italian Truffle – $200,000
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White Truffle Of Alba – $160,406
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Monster 1KG Truffle – $132,275
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Grande Twin Truffles – $118,000
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16th International Auction White Truffle – $108,000
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4 Pound White Truffle – $95,000
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White Truffle Trio – $87,000
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16 Pound Sotheby’s White Truffle – $61,250
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Which one of the most expensive truffles is your favorite? Leave a comment below.
Shawna Schofield is a writer from Chicago who loves tech and gaming. In the past she has collected everything from baseball cards to barbies and she considers herself to be a tasteful hoarder of potentially valuable items.
What are the most expensive tequilas in the world?
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Tequila is one of the most popular liquors in the world and, in the United States alone, nearly 20 million 9-liter cases are consumed every year!
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Whether you’re drinking it neat or mixing it into a margarita, you probably have a favorite brand that you know tastes great.
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However, some brands can get incredibly expensive, and it is these tequilas that we are counting down today.
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How did we select this list of tequilas?
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We’ve put over 10 hours of research into re-writing and updating this list for 2024.
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The tequilas on this list were selected by taking the current average sale price, at the time of writing.
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Prices for rare tequila can vary depending on where they’re listed for sale; so for each tequila on this list, we checked the price across multiple websites and settled on the average.
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Next comes the question, when does tequila stop being tequila, and start being artwork?
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If you’re a fan of tequila you can probably think of at least one brand that treats their bottles as artwork.
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These bottles can often be worth thousands, but is it all just similar tequila in a fancy and unique bottle?
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We’ve decided we’re not going to be the judge of what’s tequila and what’s artwork, so what you see on this list reflects a true order, based on price per bottle.
Tequila is a very versatile liquor and there is no shortage of varieties you can find at your local store.
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That said, some of these tequilas are reserved for only the most wealthy buyers, and you certainly won’t want to drink them on a casual night out.
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Without further ado, here’s our list of the 20 most expensive tequilas money can buy:
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20. 1800 Coleccion Tequila
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Price/Bottle: $2,000
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This unique expensive tequila gets its name from the year that distillers started using oak barrels for aging, and it is owned by the insanely wealthy Beckmann family.
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Distilled twice during its 10-year aging process, this tequila has a flavor reminiscent of Amaretto, but with a bolder kick that reminds you that it’s tequila.
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For $2,000, this tequila comes in its own crystal decanter trimmed with pewter and securely placed in a lavish case lined with suede to protect its precious contents.
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It doesn’t get much more high-end than that!
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19. Barrique de Ponciano Porfidio
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Price/Bottle: $2,200
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Made from 100% agave, Barrique de Ponciano Porfidio is a luxury tequila that has been aged for 10 years in French oak barrels and it is limited to special batches of only 2,000 bottles per year.
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While its purity does impact this tequila’s price, the bottle that it comes in also makes it more expensive.
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Each bottle comes with lettering and images engraved with one of the most expensive precious metals in the world, 21-karat gold.
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It definitely looks and tastes every bit worth its hefty price tag.
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18. Clase Azul Extra A\u00f1ejo Ultra
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Price/Bottle: $2,500
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The first Clase Azul product to appear on this list is the only one in regular production and not a limited edition.
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Clase Azul’s extra anejo ultra is aged for 5 years in American whiskey and sherry casks.
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The bottle is decorated in platinum, silver, and 24-karat gold.
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You can expect to pay around $2,500 a bottle for this tequila.
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17. AsomBroso Reserva del Porto Extra Anejo
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Price/Bottle: $2800
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This brandy-like tequila is the type of drink that you break out during life’s greatest milestones.
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Aged for 10 years in port wine barrels from Portugal, it is mixed with a small portion of white oak-aged tequila before being bottled.
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Stored in a bottle shaped like a historical decanter found in an eighteenth-century Portuguese castle, it even comes secured in its own cedar humidor.
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Although this tequila usually costs $2,800, you can sometimes get lucky and find it on sale for $1,499, which is honestly a great price, all things considered.
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16. AsomBroso The Collaboration 12 Year Extra Anejo
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Price/Bottle: $3,000
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AsomBroso’s The Collaboration is an extra anejo tequila, aged 12 years in Silver Oak Cellar\u2019s American casks.
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The tequila is bottled inside a crystal decanter hand-made by Luciano Gambaro, a famous Italian artist.
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The decanter is then packaged in a custom-polished humidor with laser engraving.
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A single bottle might set you back $3,000, but there are places where you might be able to get your hands on one for cheaper.
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15. Tesla Tequila Limited Edition Anejo
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Price/Bottle: $4,000
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It does seem that Elon Musk can do no wrong.
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Tesla Tequila started as an April Fool’s joke but quickly became a physical product that sold out immediately.
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For the limited edition variant, only 420 bottles were produced, a number that jokingly references a time when Musk said he was going to take Tesla private at $420 a share.
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The numbered limited edition variant with matching shot glass is currently selling for around $4,000, whilst the regular variant can fetch up to $1,500.
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14. Codigo 1530 14 Year Extra Anejo
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Price/Bottle: $4,500
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Codigo’s 1530 extra A\u00f1ejo has been aged inside French White Oak Napa Valley Cabernet wine barrels for 14 years and then finished in French Cognac casks.
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This is Codigo’s most expensive tequila they’ve ever produced.
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A single bottle is now worth $4,500.
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13. Clase Azul Pink Limited Edition Reposado
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Price/Bottle: $6,000
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This isn’t the first Clase Azul tequila featured on this list, and it definitely won’t be the last.
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The ‘Pink’ limited edition reposado was originally released in 2016 for breast cancer awareness, with a percentage of the proceeds being donated to charity.
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Just 3000 bottles of the original 2016 version were produced, featuring a white bottle hand-painted with pink artwork.
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There have since been one or two other ‘Pink’ breast cancer awareness releases from Clase Azul.
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12. Patron Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 3
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Price/Bottle: $7,500
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Patron’s En Lalique Serie line the creme de la creme of their tequila.
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Whatever we have here is the Serie 3, their latest release, but it’s the least expensive of the three.
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The Serie 3 contains a blend of 14 different extra anejo tequilas, aged in 6 different barrel types.
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Held in a crystal hand-carved decanter, with decoration inspired by the Weber Blue Agave.
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The decanter is stored inside a luxurious wooden box.
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Each decanter is numbered, and given the fact that this is Patron’s latest release, you can expect the Serie 3’s price to rise over the next few years.
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11. Patron Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 1 Extra Anejo
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Price/Bottle: $8000
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Patron’s En Lalique Serie 1 uses some of their oldest tequila, presented in a hand-made decanter inspired by Mexico’s Weber Blue Agave plant, topped off with an amber stopper.
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Although this bottle cost $8,000, it’s not their most expensive tequila.
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Patron went one step further for their next tequila, but more on that shortly.
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10. Dos Armadillos Extra Anejo Sterling Silver
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Price/Bottle: $10,000
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The Dos Armadillos Extra Anejo uses only an 8-year mature Blue Weber Agave.
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The tequila is bottled in their signature armadillo-armored bottle, however, the armor for this edition is made entirely out of sterling silver.
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$10,000 is the current price to pick up one of these bottles, a number that’s far more expensive than any other product in their range.
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9. Clase Azul Puebla Limited Edition
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Price/Bottle: $10,000
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The Clase Azul Puebla limited edition tequila was released on the 5th of May 2021, to commemorate Cinco de Mayo, or the Battle of Puebla.
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Cinco de Mayo is a yearly celebration held on the 5th of May to celebrate Mexico’s victory over the Second French Empire in 1862.
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Just 300 bottles were produced and sold with a price tag of $400.
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If you wished to purchase a bottle of Puebla Limited Edition today, the price would be more along the lines of $10,000.
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8. Clase Azul Dia de Muertos Limited Edition
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Price/Bottle: $10,000
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The Dia de Los Muertos collection from Clase Azul features several individual releases, but with most of them fetching similar prices, we’ve decided to include them in one single entry.
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Dia de Muertos, or ‘The Day of the Dead’ as it’s otherwise known, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated during November.
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Clase Azul has released a new edition within the Dia de Muertos line annually for the past several years.
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Some of the bottle designs for the Dia de Muertos range are spectacular and tend to rise in value once they are no longer produced.
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7. Patron Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 2 Extra Anejo
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Price/Bottle: $10,500
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Patron’s En Lalique Serie 2 is aged and made slowly in small batches to ensure perfect quality.
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The bottle is carved crystal, featuring a crystal bee stopper with hand-painted gold accents.
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It’s then placed inside a wooden box that spins to open, creating a rather luxurious effect.
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We’ve seen prices ranging from $8,000 to $12,000 for this bottle, so if you’re patient you might be able to get it at a good price.
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6. Clase Azul Master Artisans
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Price/Bottle: $20,000
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Clase Azul’s most popular and iconic tequila is their resposado tequila, housed in a blue and white bottle.
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In 2021, the brand collaborated with the award-winning artist, \u00c1ngel Santos to create a hand-crafted, limited edition resposado.
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The ‘Master Artisans’ line aims to highlight the work of Mexico’s most talented artists.
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The \u00c1ngel Santos edition, which at launch sold for $5,000 a bottle, can now reach up to $20,000.
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5. Clase Azul Jalisco 200 Limited Edition
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Price/Bottle: $25,000
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The Clase Azul Jalisco is an extra anejo tequila, named after Jalisco, a state in Mexico.
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As the name might also suggest, only 200 bottles of this limited-edition tequila were distilled.
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The tequila comes packaged inside a custom-built wooden box, which opens to reveal a drinking glass on either side.
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With just 200 bottles released, getting your hands on one of these bottles isn’t cheap.
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4. Clase Azul 15th Anniversary Edition
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Price/Bottle: $30,000
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The Clase Azul celebrated its 15th anniversary by releasing 15 limited edition bottles priced at $30,000 each.
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Each of the unique bottles was handcrafted to convey the story of Mexico and all proceeds from the sale of these bottles were donated to the Fundacion con Causa Azul A.C, which supports the work of craftsmen and artisans in Mexico.
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Although this tequila is no longer available for sale, we imagine that Clase Azul will release another special edition for a future anniversary, so if you want to grab a bottle, be sure to keep your eyes peeled.
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3. Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario The Rolling Stones Special Edition
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Price/Bottle: $75,000
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Jose Cuervo was the very first legal tequila company to be established, with the company’s history dating back to 1795.
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To celebrate the 250th anniversary of Case Cuervo, Jose Cuervo released the 250 Anniversario tequila.
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They also released a limited edition of the tequila, in collaboration with the Rolling Stones rock band.
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The Jose Cuervo brand played a leading role in the Rolling Stones’ 1972 North American tour, ‘Tequila Sunrise’.
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For the Rolling Stones special edition, the tequila bottle is embossed with the famous ‘Hot Lips’ logo in 14-carat gold, and spikes along the sides.
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It also comes packaged in a leather guitar-shaped case, including seven shot glasses.
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The tequila was initially released with a price tag of just $4,000, but prices have skyrocketed to almost $75,000 since then.
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2. Tequila Ley .925 Ultra-Premium
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Price/Bottle: $225,000
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In 2006, the artists at Tequila Ley designed three unique bottles to contain the tequila designed by Mexican artist Alejandro Gomez.
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Each bottle was only created 33 times, for a total of 99 bottles, each more expensive than the last.
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While this tequila in a glass bottle retails for $3,500, the gold and silver bottle goes for $25,000, and the gold and platinum for $150,000.
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The most expensive of all was the white gold and platinum, which carried the insane price tag of $225,000!
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Although the tequila itself is delectable, the real stars are the bottles that collectors and tequila enthusiasts scrambled to try and grab while they lasted.
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1. Tequila Ley .925 Diamante
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Price/Bottle: $3.5 Million
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Recorded as the most expensive tequila ever sold by a mile, the .925 Diamante is a true work of art.
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The Ley .925 Diamante tequila is made from 100% Blue Weber agave, which is grown in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico.
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The tequila is then aged for 7 years inside French Oak barrels before being poured into a platinum and white gold version of Tequila Ley’s signature-shaped bottle.
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However, none of these things truly account for the Diamante’s insane price tag.
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As the name might suggest, the bottle is encrusted with 4000 diamonds, amounting to a total of 18.5 carats.
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Summary
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Now that we’ve come to the end of the list, you might have noticed a common theme.
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Clase Azul had the most entries on this list, holding seven positions in the top 20.
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This is largely due to the fact they treat their bottles as artwork, often showcasing hand-painted art in limited edition releases.
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That’s not to take away from their tequila, but to say that their unique approach is very popular among collectors and tequila enthusiasts alike.
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Here’s a quick recap of the 20 most expensive tequilas in the world:
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Tequila Ley .925 Diamante
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Tequila Ley .925 Ultra-Premium
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Jose Cuervo 250 Aniversario The Rolling Stones Special Edition
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Clase Azul 15th Anniversary Edition
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Clase Azul Jalisco 200 Limited Edition
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Clase Azul Tequila Master Artisans
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Patron Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 2 Extra Anejo
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Clase Azul Dia de Los Muertos Limited Edition
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Clase Azul Puebla Limited Edition Tequila
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Dos Armadillos Sterling Silver Extra Anejo
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Patron Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 1 Extra Anejo
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Patron Limited Edition En Lalique Serie 3
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Clase Azul Pink Limited Edition Reposado
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Codigo 1530 Fourteen Years Extra Anejo
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Tesla Tequila Anejo
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Asombroso The Collaboration 12 Year Extra Anejo
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AsomBroso Reserva del Porto Extra Anejo
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Clase Azul Extra A\u00f1ejo Ultra
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Barrique de Ponciano Porfidio
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1800 Coleccion Tequila
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Are there any tequilas we missed out from the list? Leave a comment below.
Cigars have risen in price rapidly over the past two decades.
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They’re associated with luxury and wealth more than ever before, and cigar aficionados are constantly looking for rare and exclusive cigars to add to their collections.
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This begs the question: how expensive can cigars be, and how difficult could it be to get your hands on the rarest of the rare?
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Today we’re bringing you our updated list of the most expensive cigars in the world.
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How did we select this list of cigars?
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One of the issues with many expensive cigar lists on the internet, including the original version of our own, is how the cigar values are calculated.
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For instance, there was once an auction for a very rare box of cigars that sold for more than half a million dollars, but the box consisted of almost 800 cigars. More details on that are below.
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We’ve decided to thoroughly calculate the price/stick for each of the entries on this list, so you can have a clearer understanding of exactly which cigars are the most expensive in the world.
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Whilst it may be difficult to obtain some of these cigars individually, assuming you’d want to obtain them of course, we think this is the best way of ranking the list.
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Another thing we decided to take into account is limited edition releases which are packaged in custom humidors instead of regular boxes.
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These humidors can often cost thousands of dollars alone, and end up distorting the price of the cigar.
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Can people still buy these cigars?
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Most of the cigars featured on this list can still be bought and smoked to this day.
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Many of them are limited edition lines and are likely harder to find than most cigars.
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What exactly makes some cigars more expensive than others?
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Typically, there are a few things that can factor into cigar price:
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Limited edition productions
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Aged tobacco
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Brand recognition
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Limited edition productions can often limit the total number of cigars produced, and as time passes the number of those remaining drops.
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A lot of rare cigar releases also use aged tobacco leaves, and you’ll see several brands on this list that age their tobacco for at least 10 years before the cigar is rolled.
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Brand recognition also plays a part as particular brands such as Cohiba are always sought after.
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Finally, if none of the above results in a cigar being expensive, there are a select few who will cover cigars in gold leaf, and diamonds, and infuse them with expensive cognac.
We’ve done countless hours of research to ensure that our updated version of this list is the best resource available.
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Without further ado, let’s get into this list of the 25 most expensive cigars in the world:
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25. El Septimo The Zaya Collection (Mirifico Sapphire)
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Price/Stick: $100
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The Zaya Collection, produced by El Septimo, contains 8 different varieties of cigars.
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Each variety contains five different filler tobaccos, with the tobacco leaves aged up to 15 years.
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Typically, each cigar features are larger ring gauge of around 60, due to the variety of filler leaves used.
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Whilst the cigars within this collection have very different flavor profiles from one another, the prices/stick are relatively similar.
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At the time of researching this article, we’ve included the variety selling for the most, which is Mirifico Sapphire, at $100/stick.
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Other varieties within the collection include:
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Bomba Orange
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Short Dream Topaz
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Kolosso Amethyst
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Fabuloso Dark Ruby
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Excepcion Esmerelda
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Double Shot White
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Bullet Black
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24. Arturo Fuente Opus X 20th Anniversary
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Price/Stick: $115
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Arturo Fuente has long been known for their high-quality cigars, and their Opus X range contains some of the most sought-after cigars in the brand’s history.
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The Opus X line was created in 1995 and in 2016 Fuente released the ‘Opus X 20th Anniversary’ edition to commemorate 20 years of the Opus X.
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The ’20th Anniversary’ line contained four cigars:
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Believe
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Father & Son
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God’s Whisper
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Power of A Dream
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The prices do vary between each variety, however, because the ‘God’s Whisper’ variety comes in a ‘Perfecto’ size it tends to be sold for higher prices than the rest of the line.
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23. Cohiba Spectre 2023
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Price/Stick: $130
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The Spectre line from Cohiba was initially introduced in 2018 and cost $90 per stick.
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Separate versions of the Cohiba Spectre have since been released annually, with the most expensive being the Spectre 2023.
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The 2023 Spectre is limited to 600 boxes of 10 cigars, featuring a 52 ring gauge and 6 1/2 inches in length.
\n
What’s most interesting about the release is the packaging, which differs somewhat from most cigars, including that of Cohiba.
\n
The cigars are stored in a box that opens vertically, featuring a hydraulic system that elevates the tubed cigars when you press the ‘O’ button inside the Cohiba logo.
\n
\n
22. Davidoff Royal Release Salamones
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $150
\n
To be qualified enough to roll the Royal Release Salamones, Davidoff makes sure you have more than 15 years of experience rolling cigars.
\n
This cigar is only rolled by 8 different people who together have rolled over 7 million cigars.
\n
The Royal Release Salmones takes 10 years to grow from tobacco seed to finished product and is sold in boxes of 10 for $1,500.
\n
\n
21. Hoyo de Monterrey Epicure No. 2 Reserva Cosecha 2012
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $181
\n
The Epicure No. 2 is one of Hoyo de Monterrey’s signature cigars.
\n
In 2016, Habanos SA announced the release of the No. 2 Reserva Cosecha 2012.
\n
This blend only uses tobacco leaves from 2012, aged for a minimum of three years.
\n
With just 5000 boxes of 20 cigars produced, this cigar is bound to increase in value with time.
\n
\n
20. Hoyo de Monterrey Double Coronas Gran Reserva Cosecha 2013
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $200
\n
Here we have another Hoyo de Monterrey ‘Reserva’ release, the Double Coronas Gran Reserva Cosecha 2013.
\n
Typically, Gran Reserva lines are more sought after than regular Reserva series, due to the difference in tobacco aging.
\n
Reserva cigar blends use tobacco leaves that are aged for a minimum of three years.
\n
Whereas Gran Reserva blends use tobacco leaves aged for a minimum of 5 years.
\n
Gran Reservas are also produced with only 15 sticks per box, instead of the usual 20.
\n
\n
19. Cohiba Siglo De Oro (Year of the Rabbit)
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $250
\n
In 2023, Cohiba announced the release of the Siglo De Oro, to commemorate both the Chinese ‘Year of the Rabbit’, and also the 30th anniversary of the Siglo series.
\n
Naturally, people across China, Hong Kong, and various other countries in Asia were the first to see these cigars unveiled.
\n
Only 18,888 boxes of the Siglo De Oro will be produced.
\n
That number might sound oddly specific, and it is indeed no coincidence, as the number 8 is lucky in Chinese culture.
\n
The Siglo De Oro is a 54 ring gauge, 4 1/2 inch long cigar, sold in boxes of 18.
\n
\n18. H. Upmann Sir Winston Gran Reserva Cosecha 2011
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $260
\n
H. Upmann is one of the oldest cigar brands in the world, with history going all the way back to 1843.
\n
The Sir Winston Gran Reserva Cosecha is of course named after the legendary Sir Winston Churchill, who was known not only for being one of the most important prime ministers in British history; but also for his love of cigars.
\n
The Gran Reserve line was launched by H. Upmann in 2009, and in 2011 the Sir Winston edition was released.
\n
Just 5000 boxes of 15 cigars were produced, for a total of 75,000 cigars.
\n
\n
17. Partagas Serie E No.1 Colecci\u00f3n Habanos 2013
\n
Price/Stick: $280
\n
The Serie E No. 1 Colecci\u00f3n Habanos 2013 from Partagas appears 18th on our list of the most expensive cigars.
\n
With this particular cigar now being over 10 years old, its price has risen heavily.
\n
You can still find this cigar for sale in the USA for roughly $280 per stick, however, prices do vary.
\n
\n
16. Hoyo De Monterrey Maravillas Collection 2015
\n
Price/Stick: $290
\n
The most expensive Hoyo de Monterrey cigar is the Maravillas Collection 2015.
\n
There were just 2000 boxes of 20 cigars produced, amounting to a total of 40,000 cigars.
\n
Given the smaller production number in comparison to the other Hoyo de Monterrey’s featured on this list, you can expect to pay $290/stick for this cigar.
\n
\n
15. Cohiba Behike Series
\n
\n
Price/Stick $300
\n
Cohiba Behikes are one of the most popular and sought-after cigars in the world.
\n
Behike cigars are known for their full-strength flavor and quality, provided you can get your hands on the authentic product.
\n
They’re sold in three different ring gauges: 52, 54, and 56.
\n
These sizes are represented in their names respectively: Behike 52, Behike 54, and Behike 56.
\n
The Cohiba Behike cigars are sold in 10-count boxes and increase in price depending on their size.
\n
\n
14. Oliva Serie V Roaring Twenties Super Limited Edition
\n
\n
Price/Stick $300
\n
Oliva Cigar Co. are well known for producing cigars that provide a great smoking experience for a great value.
\n
However, in 2023 they decided to do something a little different.
\n
The most popular line of Oliva cigars is the ‘Series V’, and last year they announced a new Series V Roaring Twenties Super Limited Edition.
\n
When we take a look at the average price of an Oliva cigar, we can see a price of around $10, so what’s different?
\n
The packaging is the most notable difference, with the Roaring Twenties SLE cigars being placed in boxes produced by Daniel Marshall.
\n
Half of the cigars (the top layer) are also covered in gold foil.
\n
In addition, there will only ever be 300 boxes created, for a total of 3000 cigars.
\n
\n
13. Trinidad Casilda Coleccion Habanos 2019
\n
Price/Stick: $370
\n
As you may have already noticed, Habanos limited edition collections can become incredibly expensive.
\n
The Trinidad Casilda 2019 is another edition within the Coleccion Habanos with only 3000 boxes being produced.
\n
This cigar once again features the traditional book-shaped box packaging as with any ‘Coleccion Habanos’ release.
\n
Getting your hands on a single stick could cost up to $370.
\n
\n
12. Daniel Marshall 24KT Golden Gigante
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $395
\n
Continuing both the obsession with gold and also the story of Daniel Marshall brings us to the next cigar on our list.
\n
For those who are unaware of Daniel Marshall; he’s a well-known figure within the cigar industry for his work with manufacturing custom humidors.
\n
In 2011, Marshall decided to create a 24KT gold cigar for his friend’s 64th birthday.
\n
Marshall then produced a limited run of the cigar which would be packaged in a custom-signed travel humidor.
\n
The 24kt cigar comes in two sizes, Torpedo and Gigante, with the Gigante size being the more expensive of the two.
\n
Its base is that of the DM2 cigar, also sold by Daniel Marshall, which is rolled and sold to him by the Plasencia factory.
\n
Daniel then covers the cigar with a thin layer of gold leaf from Italy.
\n
\n11. Montecristo Gran Piramides Limited Edition 2017
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $400
\n
Montecristo is one of the most popular cigar brands in the world, and one of their most expensive cigars is the Gran Piramides Limited Edition from 2017.
\n
The Gran Piramides are part of the ‘Coleccion Habanos’, which come packaged in a box that’s shaped to look like a book.
\n
At its core, the Gran Piramides are a Montecristo No. 2 that has been increased in size for this limited collection.
\n
This cigar has a length of 6.25 inches and a ring gauge of 57, while Montecristo No. 2’s are a 52 ring gauge, and slightly shorter in length.
\n
Only 2000 boxes of the Gran Piramides 2017 were produced by Habanos SA.
\n
\n
10. Partagas Lusitanias Gran Reserva Cosecha 2007
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $430
\n
Continuing with another Habanos SA-produced cigar, the 2007 Gran Reserva Lusitanias from Partagas is our 11th most expensive cigar.
\n
Just 5000 boxes of 15 cigars were produced, resulting in a total count of 75,000 cigars.
\n
The Gran Reserve Cosecha 2007 can still be found for sale, but given its age, you might have to shell out more than you wish to.
\n
\n
9. Cohiba Talisman Edicion Limitada 2017
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $450
\n
When it was originally released, the Cohiba Talisman EL 2017 cost just $547 for a box of 10.
\n
Since their release, the price has risen rapidly year over year.
\n
The cigars were produced at the world-famous El Laguito factory in Havana, Cuba.
\n
At the time of writing this article, you’d be lucky to find a single stick for under $450.
\n
\n
8. Cohiba 55 Aniversario Edicion Limitada 2021
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $500
\n
While not the most expensive release from Cohiba in the year 2021, the next entry on this list was certainly an important one.
\n
The 55 Anniversario Edicion Limitada 2021 marked the 55th anniversary of Cohiba.
\n
As the name suggests, the cigar was indeed a limited edition, and difficult to get a hold of.
\n
The cigar was released in 10-count boxes, costing roughly $5000/box.
\n
\n
7. Davidoff Oro Blanco
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $600
\n
Davidoff claims that the Oro Blanco is the most exceptional cigar they’ve ever created.
\n
The Oro Blanco is a 6-inch, 54 ring gauge, toro-shaped cigar, with an all-Dominican wrapper, binder, and filler
\n
So why does it cost $600 per cigar?
\n
One of the main reasons for its high cost is due to Davidoff’s aging process.
\n
The Oro Blanco, which translates to “White Gold”, is made with tobacco leaves grown in areas with some of the richest soil across the entire Dominican Republic.
\n
The leaves are then aged for 12 years before the cigar is rolled; a task completed only by Davidoff’s most experienced rollers (15+ years of experience).
\n
After one additional year of aging, the single cigar is then reviewed, approved, and placed into a custom box.
\n
\n
6. Mayan Sicars
\n
Price/Stick: $633
\n
At the beginning of this article, we mentioned a specific auction involving a box of 800 cigars.
\n
In 2012, a large crate of Mayan cigars, expected to be more than 600 years old, was discovered in Guatemala.
\n
It’s important to mention that the most reliable source of this information mentions the sale of all 800 cigars for a total of $507,000, which would put the price/stick at $633.
\n
The cigars were buried deep below the surface in sealed clay pots, and discovered by an archeologist team from Tampa University.
\n
Who paid the $507,000? A man named Gary Liotta, owner of the Santiago Cigar Factory in New York.
\n
\n
5. Gurkha His Majesty\u2019s Reserve
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $750
\n
On the sixth spot, we have Gurkha His Majesty’s Reserve cigar.
\n
It’s made each year, and if you’re a cigar enthusiast, you will need to preorder them a few years beforehand.
\n
The total size of each cigar is 7-5 x 52 inches. The Connecticut Maduro wrapper comes with a Dominican binder and filler that is aged for 12 years.
\n
The filler is infused with Louis XIII cognac, which gives it an amazing aroma.
\n
This cigar is very rare and special, and the cognac has been known for selling only to dignitaries worldwide.
\n
A total of 75 boxes are being made every year. The incredible aroma, as well as the taste of the cigar, will be something that you will be so impressed with that you will never forget.
\n
\n
4. Cohiba Ideales Coleccion 2021
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $1100
\n
As the name suggests, this Cohiba cigar was released in 2021, measuring almost 7 inches in length, with a 56 ring gauge.
\n
The Ideales Coleccion 2021 is limited to just 3000 boxes of 20 cigars, totaling 60,000 sticks.
\n
The box is manufactured to look like a book.
\n
Cohiba’s Ideales Coleccion 2021 is the last cigar to feature on this list that isn’t either covered in gold leaf and crystals or nearly 20 years old.
\n
Which makes it the most expensive plain cigar that can still be purchased today.
\n
\n
3. Gurkha Black Dragon (2006 Edition)
\n
Price/Stick: $1,150
\n
The Gurkha Black Dragon is a cigar that you can still buy and smoke newer versions of to this day, but the original 2006 edition is a rare find.
\n
The OG boxes were handmade using camel bone and were limited to just 5 boxes of 100 cigars.
\n
Those who have smoked the original Black Dragon from 2006, and the newer editions seem to conclude that the taste is more or less the same.
\n
Although the 2006 first edition of the Gurkha Black Dragon cost around $1,150, given how limited it was at the time; the current version of this cigar can be added to your collection for just $40/stick.
\n
\n
2. King of Denmark Cigar
\n
Price/Stick: $4,500
\n
The King of Denmark cigar is produced by Royal Danish and only 30 sticks are rolled per day.
\n
Buyers can customize the cigar with both 24KT gold leaf and Swarovski crystals.
\n
They’re also able to have their name inscribed on the cigar.
\n
Whilst this cigar doesn’t have to cost you thousands, it can reach up to $4,500/stick depending on the customization.
\n
\n
1. Gurkha Royal Courtesan
\n
\n
Price/Stick: $1.36 Million
\n
The most expensive cigar in the world is the Gurkha Royal Courtesan cigar.
\n
The Royal Courtesan is worth a ridiculous $1.36 million per stick.
\n
One of the most interesting things here is that Gurkha are not known for their quality.
\n
In fact, Gurkha’s quality control is often a common problem reported by fellow cigar aficionados.
\n
This begs the question: why does this cigar cost so much more money than anything else on the list before it?
\n
Let’s get into the details of the Royal Courtesan:
\n
\n
The cigar’s filler is infused with Remy Martin\u2019s Louis XIII cognac.
\n
It’s hand-rolled by a select few skilled rollers, who are blindfolded.
\n
The band of the cigar is covered in 5-carat diamonds.
\n
Rare Himalayan tobacco leaves are used for the wrapper.
\n
The wrapper is also covered in a layer of 24KT gold leaf.
\n
Personal delivery to the owner by a messenger
\n
\n
\n
Notable Mentions
\n
That concludes our main list of the 25 most expensive cigars in the world.
\n
There are, however, a few entries we’d like to mention.
\n
Although these weren’t included in the main list, they’re worth mentioning to any fellow cigar aficionado.
\n
\n
Regius Double Corona Cigar
\n
Price: $52,000
\n
We decided to leave out the Regius Double Corona from our main list as the cigar itself is not the main reason for the high price.
\n
In 2013, Regius Cigars developed their Double Corona cigar, which is produced in Nicaragua.
\n
However, the main attraction was not actually the cigar itself, but what was included with the purchase.
\n
The buyer of the cigar would be flown first class out to Regius headquarters in Nicaragua, where they would be given a private tour of the factory.
\n
They would also be allowed to create their own cigar blend, and be given 1000 sticks of said blend to take home with them.
\n
\n
Gran Habano #5 El Gigante
\n
Price: $185,000
\n
Technically this cigar does have a clear price/stick, selling for $185,000 in 2013.
\n
However, it’s probably worth mentioning that the cigar is 19 feet long, 3 feet thick, and weighs over 600 pounds.
\n
Here are some interesting facts about the Gran Habano #5 El Gigante:
\n
\n
Despite its size, it can be smoked by multiple people at the same time.
\n
Made with 1,600 pounds of tobacco.
\n
Equivalent to smoking 25,000 cigars
\n
Contains 15,000 wrapper leaves
\n
Has a ring gauge of 1920
\n
Weighs 2,500 pounds with the wooden case
\n
\n
We decided to separate the El Gigante from our main list of expensive cigars, but the story itself is worth mentioning.
\n
\n
Summary
\n
If you enjoyed this list, don’t forget to check out our other most expensive lists:
Which are the most expensive countries to live in worldwide? Hold tight, as you’re about to find out.
\n
If you’ve dreamed about moving abroad and starting life afresh in a new country, then read through this list before you do, as you might be shocked to find out just how expensive some of these lesser-known countries are.
\n
We’ve put together this list based on accommodation and living expenses for a single person living in the capital city of each country, and according to population.
\n
Here’s a list of the 10 most expensive countries to live in worldwide…
The 10 Most Expensive Countries to Live in Worldwide
\n
The list of countries and figures mentioned below have been compiled from various sources around the web, such as World Population Review & Nomad List.
\n
These are the 10 most expensive countries to live in worldwide:
\n
\n
10. Barbados – $2,061
\n
\n
Kicking off our list of the 10 most expensive countries to live in worldwide, is Barbados.
\n
Barbados is a sovereign island nation in the Lesser Antilles of the West Indies, which is the Caribbean region of North America.
\n
It covers approximately 349km\u00b2 and is 23 kilometres wide and 34 kilometres long, with a total population of 285,719 people.
\n
Barbados is the fourth-most densely populated country in the Americas and, it’s capital city, Bridgetown, has approximately 110,000 people living in it.
\n
To rent a one-bedroom studio apartment in Bridgetown, you’re looking at spending around $500 a month, or $100 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
A basic meal out will cost you no less than $13. A beer is around $6.50 and coffee is approximately $5.00 depending on where you go.
\n
\n
9. Japan – $2,612
\n
\n
The ninth most expensive country to live in worldwide is Japan.
\n
Japan is an archipelago island nation in South-East Asia, made up of 6,852 islands, with a current total population of 126.8 million people.
\n
Of the 6,582 islands, the four largest islands account for the majority of inhabitants, as roughly 97% Japans population live on the four islands.
\n
Japan has many major cities, like Osaka, Yokohoma, Nagoya and Sapporo, which are all populated by more than 2 million people.
\n
However, Tokyo, Japans Capital City and the largest city in Japan, has an approximate population of 37 million people.
\n
To rent a one-bedroom studio apartment in Tokyo, you’re looking at spending in the region of $1,370 a month, or $111 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
Eating out varies in price, but as an average for one person, you should be looking at spending around $15.00 for a basic meal and around $6.00 for a beer.
\n
Coffee is also pretty reasonable, considering how expensive Tokyo is, at $2.81 a cup.
\n
\n
8. Norway – $2,659
\n
\n
Located in Northern Europe, Norway is a Scandinavian country with a total population of 5.3 million people.
\n
Norway shares its borders with Sweden, Russia and Finland, and has a total landmass of 385,203 km\u00b2.
\n
It’s only the 171st most densely populated country on earth, with roughly 14 people for every square kilometre.
\n
Rent is expensive in Norway’s capital, so renting a one-bedroom studio apartment in Oslo, will set you back around $1,193 a month, or $85 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
You won’t have much change left from $15 when buying a meal out, and a beer will set you back around $9.11.
\n
\n
7. The Bahamas – $2,704
\n
\n
The next most expensive country in the world to live in is The Bahamas.
\n
Made up of over 700 islands, the Bahamas has an approximate population of 389,482 million people living across its 13,943km\u00b2 landmass.
\n
The largest city in the Bahamas is Nassau, with a total population of 255,000.
\n
If you’re thinking about visiting the Bahamas, then you should budget approximately $950 a month for a one-bedroom studio apartment in the city, or $149 a night for an Airbnb.
\n
You’ll need to take at least $50-$100 with you when you go out for a meal and some drinks, as a basic meal costs around $15-$20 and a beer will cost you around $2.50.
\n
Coffee is a little on the expensive side, at around $5 each.
\n
\n
6. Luxembourg – $2,751
\n
\n
One of the smallest countries on our list, Luxembourg, is also one of the smallest sovereign nations on the planet, and it won’t leave you with a lot of wiggle room when it comes to your monthly expenses.
\n
Luxembourg is a landlocked country, located in western Europe, and has an estimated population of 620,319 people.
\n
Its population is small compared to other countries on the list, however, it has roughly 207 people per square kilometre, making it the 67th most densely populated country on earth.
\n
When you arrive in Luxembourg City, you can expect to pay around $1,322 per month for a one-bedroom studio apartment, or $80 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
Luxembourg seems like it’s slightly more expensive than the Bahamas when it comes to luxuries like beer and coffee, as one beer will cost you around $9 and coffee will set you back $6.
\n
Eating a basic meal out will cost between $17-$25 for one person depending on what you order.
\n
\n
5. Iceland – $2,802
\n
\n
Coming in at number five on our list of the most expensive countries in the world is Iceland.
\n
Iceland is located between the North and Atlantic Oceans and has a total surface area of 103,001 square kilometres.
\n
However, Iceland’s population of 339,949 people, remains relatively low in comparison to others on our list as its harsh geographical landscape proves difficult to live in for many, at times.
\n
As a result, Iceland has the lowest population density of any European country, at just 3 people per kilometre.
\n
Staying in Iceland will cost you approximately $1,236 a month for a one-bedroom studio apartment in the capital city of Reykjavik, or $128 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
Whilst you’re there, eating out will cost you around $12 for a basic meal, $8 for a beer and $2.15 for a cup of coffee.
\n
\n
4. Denmark – $3,312
\n
\n
The southernmost Nordic country in Northern Europe, Denmark, is the fourth most expensive country to live in worldwide.
\n
Denmark, bordered by Germany, Sweden and Norway has a total current population of 5.7 million people.
\n
The Scandinavian countries capital city is Copenhagen, which has an urban population of 1.2 million people, and a metropolitan population of 1.99 million.
\n
Known as one of the happiest places to live on earth, Copenhagen is also a very expensive city to live in.
\n
For a one-bedroom studio apartment, you’re looking at $1,917 a month, or $96 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
Eating out will cost you approximately $18 per person and beers and coffee are anyway between $5.50-$6.50 a pop!
\n
\n
3. Switzerland – $3,162
\n
\n
Switzerland is the third most expensive country to live in worldwide.
\n
With more than 8.6 million people living across, 41,285 square kilometres, Switzerland is the 95th most populated country in the world, and the 135th largest country in terms of the total landmass.
\n
Switzerland has a number of beautiful cities to live in, like it’s capital, Bern, and it’s the largest city, Zurich.
\n
Bern has approximately 133,000 people living there and accommodation for a month in Bern, for one person, will cost in the region of $1,366, or $86 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
A meal out will cost you approximately $15-$20, with an additional beer costing around $6.00 and coffee costing around $5.00 a cup.
\n
\n
2. Cayman Islands – $3,387
\n
\n
The Cayman Islands is the second most populated British overseas territory in the world, just behind Bermuda.
\n
It is located in the western end of the Caribbean sea and has a total current population of approximately 63,000 people.
\n
It’s made up of a number of islands like Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac.
\n
The Cayman Islands are well known for housing offshore companies, and it’s believed that there are over 100,000 companies registered in the Cayman Islands.
\n
If you’re considering doing business in George Town, the capital city of the Cayman Islands, then a one-bedroom studio apartment will cost you around $1,924 a month or $83 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
Food and drink on the island are where you might spend a lot of your money.
\n
A basic meal out will cost you at least $20-$30, with beer costing around $8.00 and coffee costing around $7 a cup.
\n
\n
1. Bermuda – $5,011
\n
\n
At over $5,000 a month for accommodation and living expenses, Bermuda is the most expensive place to live in worldwide.
\n
Similar to the Cayman Islands, Bermuda is another British territory located in the North Atlantic.
\n
Bermuda has a total population of approximately 65,000 people living across a total landmass of 20.5 square miles.
\n
Its capital city, Hamilton, is also Bermudas only incorporated city and has a current population of just over 1,000 people.
\n
When looking for accommodation in the city, you’re going to need some deep pockets, as a one-bedroom studio apartment will cost you around $2,675 a month, or $212 a night in an Airbnb.
\n
If you’re a drinker, then get prepared to spend some cash, as one glass of beer will cost you a minimum of $10, and dinner will be around $20-$30 per person.
\n
Bermuda is the most expensive country to live in worldwide.
\n
\n
Summary
\n
We hope you enjoyed our list of the 10 most expensive countries to live in worldwide.
\n
Well, there you have it, those were some super expensive countries to live in.
\n
Living in those countries might make you think twice about drinking alcohol, on a regular occasion, and make you sharpen the purse strings a bit more.
\n
However, it’s all relative and depends on your disposable income and expenses.
\n
So, if you’re still planning on moving to, or even visiting one of these countries long term, then at least you know what to expect.
\n
Here\u2019s a quick recap of the 10 most expensive countries to live in worldwide:
\n\n
Bermuda – $5,011
\n
Cayman Islands – $3,387
\n
Switzerland – $3,162
\n
Denmark – $3,312
\n
Iceland – $2,802
\n
Luxembourg – $2,751
\n
The Bahamas – $2,704
\n
Japan – $2,612
\n
Norway – $2,291
\n
Barbados – $2,061
\n\n
What’s your favourite most expensive country? Leave a comment below.
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+ "page_last_modified": " Mon, 11 Mar 2024 03:37:31 GMT"
+ },
+ {
+ "page_name": "Truffles: The Most Expensive Food in the World - CBS News",
+ "page_url": "https://www.cbsnews.com/news/truffles-the-most-expensive-food-in-the-world/",
+ "page_snippet": "European white truffles can sell for as much as $3,600 a pound, making them and their fellow fungi the most expensive food in the world. One two-pound truffle recently sold for more than $300,000. All of which has brought organized crime into the truffle trade, creating a black market and leading ...European white truffles can sell for as much as $3,600 a pound, making them and their fellow fungi the most expensive food in the world. One two-pound truffle recently sold for more than $300,000. All of which has brought organized crime into the truffle trade, creating a black market and leading to theft of both truffles as well as the highly valued truffle-sniffing dogs. The following is a script of \"The Most Expensive Food in the World\" which aired on Jan. 8, 2012. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Ira Rosen, producer. Just a couple of shavings of black truffles from France - known as black diamonds - can cost hundreds of dollars in a restaurant in Paris. White truffles from Italy can cost more than three times as much. White truffles from Italy can cost more than three times as much. Truffles are a fancy, delicious delicacy - some say an aphrodisiac - and, ounce for ounce, the most expensive food in the world. If you go to France and Italy, as we did, you learn quickly that truffles are under siege because they're becoming scarce. Truffles are a fancy, delicious delicacy - some say an aphrodisiac - and, ounce for ounce, the most expensive food in the world. If you go to France and Italy, as we did, you learn quickly that truffles are under siege because they're becoming scarce. They're being trafficked like drugs, stolen by thugs and threatened by inferior imports from China.",
+ "page_result": "\n\n Truffles: The Most Expensive Food in the World - CBS News\n \n\n \n
European white truffles can sell for as much as $3,600 a pound, making them and their fellow fungi the most expensive food in the world. One two-pound truffle recently sold for more than $300,000. All of which has brought organized crime into the truffle trade, creating a black market and leading to theft of both truffles as well as the highly valued truffle-sniffing dogs. Add to that the influx of the inferior Chinese truffles -- masquerading as their European cousins -- and you've got trouble with truffles. Lesley Stahl reports.
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The following is a script of \"The Most Expensive Food in the World\" which aired on Jan. 8, 2012. Lesley Stahl is the correspondent. Ira Rosen, producer.
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Just a couple of shavings of black truffles from France - known as black diamonds - can cost hundreds of dollars in a restaurant in Paris. White truffles from Italy can cost more than three times as much.
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Truffles are a fancy, delicious delicacy - some say an aphrodisiac - and, ounce for ounce, the most expensive food in the world. If you go to France and Italy, as we did, you learn quickly that truffles are under siege because they're becoming scarce. They're being trafficked like drugs, stolen by thugs and threatened by inferior imports from China.
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Lesley Stahl: He found one already? Where, where, where? He found one? Oh my god. Oh, smell that.
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In the beautiful Italian province of Perugia, truffle hunters roam the frosty hills with their trained dogs, who sniff out these lumpy mushrooms when they're ripe, one at a time, as they have for centuries.
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Stahl: Wow!
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Truffles grow wild, underground, usually at the base of an oak tree. They used to use pigs, but they ate the truffles.
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Olga Urbani: Very rich American people they only see truffles on the table of a very elegant restaurant. They don't see this. Now you know why they are expensive, right?
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Olga Urbani may be the only person in the world who goes truffle hunting in a full-length fur coat and a Caribbean tan, but in the truffle business, she can pretty much do what she wants. Her company, Urbani, controls 70 percent of the world's truffle trade.
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Urbani: When you find the truffles, it's like to have a miracle.
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Stahl: Another one!
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Other countries, including the U.S. have tried cultivating truffles, with only limited success. It's the combination of European red soil and rainy summers that produce an especially rich, earthy flavor. The price these truffles command makes hunters act like they're mining for gold.
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Stahl: So this is $1,000? Just right there is $1,000...
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And it's why the hunters value their dogs more than just about anything!
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Urbani (with farmers): He said, \"I really love my wife, but the dog...\"
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These truffles will go right to the Urbani factory, where they're washed, sorted and either frozen or canned - or flown fresh to fancy restaurants like New York's DB Bistro Moderne, home of the $150 hamburger smothered with truffles. A few shavings on pasta can run you even more. In 2010 at an auction in Macau, this two-pound white truffle sold for $330,000, a record amount.
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Stahl: It's not like agriculture. People don't put a seed in the ground. And they're a fungus.
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Urbani: Yes, they're underground fungus, yes.
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Stahl: So the farmer really can't make it happen.
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Urbani: No, they can't do anything. We can't do anything. You're always on the phone, many telephones, saying, \"Sorry, sorry, I don't have, I don't have.\" I wish I had 100 tons a day to make everybody happy.
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In France, the truffle is so revered that in the village of Uzes, a special mass is held in its honor. Churchgoers not only put money in the collection plate, they also add truffles. There's a reason for the special prayers: Because of climate change, the harvests are down from an annual haul of 2,000 tons of truffles 100 years ago, to just 30 tons today. The scarcity and high prices have attracted elements of organized crime who've turned the truffle trade into something resembling the drug trade.
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Bruno: The reality is, behind the popularity of the truffle lies a dangerous world.
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[Bruno: My house is your house.]
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One of Europe's most famous truffle connoisseurs is the larger-than-life French chef and restaurateur known simply as Bruno.
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Stahl: Is it like the Mafia?
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Bruno: Yes.
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Stahl: Really?
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Bruno: Yes, it's a good name? Yes, the Mafia, yes. You understand? It's very dangerous for me.
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At Bruno's restaurant, in the heart of Provence, wealthy Europeans helicopter in from Paris and Monaco, just to eat lunch. Bruno goes through about 5 tons of truffles a year, which his chefs shave on everything from potatoes to this amazing lobster dish.
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But Bruno says the growing black market has led to people coming to his place not just to eat truffles, but to steal them.
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Stahl: The robbers came and got your truffles?
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Bruno: Yes, they stole 200 kilos of truffles.
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Stahl: 200 kilos from you?
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Bruno: They didn't steal my money! They stole my truffles!
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Some of the stolen truffles, we were told, are brought to markets like this one in Richerenches where middle men sell out of the backs of cars or trucks. But large quantities change hands in back alleys.
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We witnessed this transaction where the buyers and sellers wanted their identities hidden. In less than a minute, 50 pounds of truffles were exchanged for 30,000 euros - about $40,000 - with no questions asked about where the truffles came from.
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Michel Tournayre: There's a problem of confidentiality and secrecy. And that encourages a Mafia-like attitude.
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Michel Tournayre, a third generation truffle farmer, says that local trufflers have been car-jacked, beaten with baseball bats and even killed. Thieves came and stole his truffles, his trees and worse, his dogs.
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Stahl: When they took your dogs, what did you do?
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Tournayre: I looked for them all over Europe. I found a world I didn't know about. It's a world that's rotten to the core.
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Stahl: Did you find your dogs?
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Tournayre: Never.
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But it's not criminals or climate change that worry the trufflers the most. It's China! For years, Chinese farmers used truffles as feed for their pigs. That was until a businessman supposedly said, \"The hell with the pigs, let's feed the French!\" Even if the taste of a Chinese truffle leaves something to be desired.
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Stahl: Let's talk about the Chinese truffles.
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Bruno: Catastrophe.
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Stahl: Catastrophic? Why?
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Bruno: The Chinese truffle is worthless. No-- no-- no taste, and no smell.
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Stahl: No perfume, you couldn't smell it. Nothing.
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Stahl: No taste? If I went to China and took it out of the ground, it still wouldn't taste as good?
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Urbani: It's the truffle itself. It's like eating a piece of wood.
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She says that's because of the way truffles in China are farmed. Unlike in France, where dogs smell when a truffle is ripe, the Chinese rake at the earth with no dogs - as a CBS News producer in China discovered - and harvest the truffles the minute they find them. Which explains why - while the two truffles look the same - the price is drastically different.
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Urbani: Prices of winter truffles is about $1,000 a pound. A pound of Chinese, maybe $20, $30. There are many people, bad people, who mix them. So maybe they put 30 percent of Chinese, 70 percent of...
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Stahl: And they think you won't see it?
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On the day we were at the Urbani factory, sorters found a number of Chinese truffles mixed in with that day's purchases. They were separated out into specially marked red baskets. More and more, Chinese truffles are slipped in with the good French or Italian strains. Experts say it's like cutting flour into cocaine.
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Stahl: But look, your own farmers or middle men, are putting the Chinese in with your truffles.
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Urbani: Yes.
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Stahl: You're telling us you have to be on guard, not from the Chinese, but from your own people.
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Urbani: Yeah, I know.
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Stahl: And then you're selling them.
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Urbani: I know.
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Food importers and middle men are bringing 28 tons of Chinese truffles into France a year. And many are being passed off as the real thing in some French restaurants. Michel Tournayre says he's brought home some slices from his dinners out and studied them under a microscope in his lab at home to check their origin.
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Tournayre has tried to blow the whistle on the restaurants that sell Chinese truffles at French prices, but the police have more important matters on their plate and rarely do anything about it.
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Stahl: Twenty, 28 tons of Chinese truffles come into France every year? Where do they go?
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Bruno: I think I know where they go, but I'm not gonna tell you.
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Stahl: If you tell me, you're in trouble, is what you're saying? They'll hurt you?
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Bruno: Everybody is in danger in this business.
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So we began to look for Chinese truffles ourselves. We found this product that is exported to the U.S. On the front of the can it says \"Black Winter Truffles, product of France\", while on the back in small print it says \"tuber indicum\", the Latin name for Chinese truffles.
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When we showed one of the cans to the Urbanis, at a kitchen at their headquarters, it seemed to ruin their lunch.
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Olga Urbani: This makes us crazy. This destroys all the tradition of the truffle. It's an entire life that goes in the garbage. It's unbelievable.
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American law doesn't require a distinction between varieties of truffles. And this product does sell for considerably less than the best of France. But American consumers are being deceived into thinking they're getting the finest quality at a bargain price. The owner of this brand is Pierre Jean Pebyre.
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Stahl: This is your company, right?
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Pebyre: Yes.
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Stahl: Okay, so we found this in the United States.
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Pebyre: Yes.
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Stahl: Okay, so this says, \"Black Winter Truffles.\"
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Pebyre: Yes.
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Stahl: But it's Chinese.
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Pebrye: It's Chinese, yes. This is... tin - a French product. The truffles...If I make the tin in China, it's a Chinese truffle.
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Stahl: I'm stunned.
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He was saying that since the truffles are packaged here, he can legally write \"product of France\" on the label.
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Stahl: It feels like I'm being tricked into thinking I'm buying French truffles, you know?
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Pebyre: Yes, I understand.
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And there's another problem: spores from the Chinese truffles are infecting the European soil and taking it over the way the Kudzu weed has taken over parts of our own Southeast. It began to happen in Italy, so the Italians made importing Chinese truffles illegal and there's a move in France to do the same.
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Tournayre: They are putting into danger the crown jewel of French gastronomy. If one day by accident our plantation starts producing Chinese truffles, we are dead.
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The great fear for Michel Tournayre and the other trufflers in France is that the Chinese will do to their precious delicacy what they have done to Louis Vuitton bags: produce a knock-off that looks the same, but is of lower quality. But in this case, it could just put them out of business.
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+ "page_last_modified": " Mon, 11 Mar 2024 09:28:25 GMT"
+ },
+ {
+ "page_name": "Rare Italian white truffles cost over $4,000 per kilo \u2014 here's ...",
+ "page_url": "https://www.businessinsider.com/why-real-truffles-are-so-expensive-2019-10",
+ "page_snippet": "In 2014, the world's largest white truffle was flown to New York, accompanied by a security guard, and sold at auction for $61,000.The luxury cousins of the mushroom, truffles are an indulgent food enjoyed across the world. But these fragrant fungi will cost you. In 2014, the world's largest white truffle was flown to New York, accompanied by a security guard, and sold at auction for $61,000. And climate change could mean that truffles will disappear altogether in the future. Matsusaka wagyu is the most expensive beef in the world. It had never been sold outside of Japan \u2014 until now So Expensive \u00b7 How the most expensive foods are made around the world So Expensive How the most expensive foods are made around the world So Expensive ... The luxury cousins of the mushroom, truffles are an indulgent food enjoyed across the world. But these fragrant fungi will cost you. You've probably seen luxury truffle products in supermarkets or fancy restaurants. But the unique truffle flavour you recognise might not be real truffle at all. Cheap truffle oil often hasn't been anywhere near a real truffle.",
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Why real truffles are so expensive
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Following is a transcript of the video:
The luxury cousins of the mushroom, truffles are an indulgent food enjoyed across the world. But these fragrant fungi will cost you.
In 2014, the world's largest white truffle was flown to New York, accompanied by a security guard, and sold at auction for $61,000. Discovered in Italy, this gigantic fungus weighed almost 2 kilos.
So what is it that makes them so expensive?
There are a lot of types of truffles. There at least 40 species, many of which aren't edible \u2014 and new species have been discovered as recently as 2018.
You've probably seen luxury truffle products in supermarkets or fancy restaurants. But the unique truffle flavour you recognise might not be real truffle at all. Cheap truffle oil often hasn't been anywhere near a real truffle.
Many cheaper truffle products use 2,4-dithiapentane, a synthesized compound containing one of the main aromatic compounds in foot odor \u2014 guaranteed to give it that that \"earthy\" taste.
Real truffles are seasonal and pricey, with a short shelf life. They were originally sniffed out using truffle pigs, but these days dogs are much more common truffle-hunting companions. These fungi can be found across the world, but they all require a very specific climate to grow. While different varieties may have somewhat different requirements, one thing is certain: You can't have truffles without trees.
Even when you have exactly the right conditions, truffles aren't guaranteed. And hunting them is a labour-intensive process. Once you know where to look, you have to sniff out and dig up each truffle by hand, and they can be tricky to find. It may take a while, but finding a good one can make it worth the work, a 80g truffle can be worth over $100.
Truffles also have a short season, often appearing for only a few months of the year. And even when you do get your hands on them, they have a very short shelf life. After just five days, the pungent truffle smell will have halved.
You can farm many truffle varieties, besides the rare Italian whites. Many people have been successful in setting up truffle orchards, but it's not easy. Trees need to be planted in the right soil conditions, inoculated with truffle fungus, and often irrigated constantly. It can take as long as six years before you get a good truffle harvest, and there's no guarantee that the fungi will grow at all.
These days, farming has taken over as our primary source of truffles \u2014 and today, 70% of the world's truffles are cultivated.
Through the loss of woodland and climate change, the number of wild truffles has decreased significantly. Since the 19th century, production in France has fallen from over 1,000 tonnes a season to just 30 tonnes. And climate change could mean that truffles will disappear altogether in the future.
The luxury cousins of the mushroom, truffles are an indulgent food enjoyed across the world. But these fragrant fungi will cost you.
In 2014, the world's largest white truffle was flown to New York, accompanied by a security guard, and sold at auction for $61,000. Discovered in Italy, this gigantic fungus weighed almost 2 kilos.
So what is it that makes them so expensive?
There are a lot of types of truffles. There at least 40 species, many of which aren't edible \u2014 and new species have been discovered as recently as 2018.
You've probably seen luxury truffle products in supermarkets or fancy restaurants. But the unique truffle flavour you recognise might not be real truffle at all. Cheap truffle oil often hasn't been anywhere near a real truffle.
Many cheaper truffle products use 2,4-dithiapentane, a synthesized compound containing one of the main aromatic compounds in foot odor \u2014 guaranteed to give it that that \"earthy\" taste.
Real truffles are seasonal and pricey, with a short shelf life. They were originally sniffed out using truffle pigs, but these days dogs are much more common truffle-hunting companions. These fungi can be found across the world, but they all require a very specific climate to grow. While different varieties may have somewhat different requirements, one thing is certain: You can't have truffles without trees.
Even when you have exactly the right conditions, truffles aren't guaranteed. And hunting them is a labour-intensive process. Once you know where to look, you have to sniff out and dig up each truffle by hand, and they can be tricky to find. It may take a while, but finding a good one can make it worth the work, a 80g truffle can be worth over $100.
Truffles also have a short season, often appearing for only a few months of the year. And even when you do get your hands on them, they have a very short shelf life. After just five days, the pungent truffle smell will have halved.
You can farm many truffle varieties, besides the rare Italian whites. Many people have been successful in setting up truffle orchards, but it's not easy. Trees need to be planted in the right soil conditions, inoculated with truffle fungus, and often irrigated constantly. It can take as long as six years before you get a good truffle harvest, and there's no guarantee that the fungi will grow at all.
These days, farming has taken over as our primary source of truffles \u2014 and today, 70% of the world's truffles are cultivated.
Through the loss of woodland and climate change, the number of wild truffles has decreased significantly. Since the 19th century, production in France has fallen from over 1,000 tonnes a season to just 30 tonnes. And climate change could mean that truffles will disappear altogether in the future.
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