Today’s top 10 most expensive fruits in the world 2024 can give you a horror imagination after seeing the price tag. If you find a price tag written $30,000 USD can you guess the product?
Maybe you are thinking of a luxurious motorbike or a diamond ring, right? If I say it is the price of a pineapple or melon will you believe it? Well believe it or not there are such expensive fruits in the world till 2024.
Usually, we buy fruits in pounds & Kgs that will never cost you more than $50 USD. So how are these $30K USD fruits and why are they the most expensive fruits in the world?
Well, let me clear one thing, the expensive fruits described below are not like our regular fruits. They are unique in size, shape, colors, taste, availability, etc. Also, they have some extra care and features that make them the most expensive fruits.
Do the Most Expensive Fruits Contain More Nutrients?
And the answer is NO, they contain the same nutrients as we regularly consume in our daily life. Sometimes the expensive fruits may contain fewer nutrients than the usual common fruits and sometimes it can be little more than that. However, the fact is, the amount of nutrients does not make them expensive fruits.
Why Are these Fruits so Expensive?
There is a saying “hobby is beyond the prices”. Yes, these expensive fruits are bought by the most luxurious people in the world. Also, these fruits are not available in the local market, they are sold in auctions, festivals, celebrations, etc. Sometimes the production cost of the fruits became too much higher than the regular fruit production cost. There are so many causes that make those fruits so much expensive.
#Here is the list of 10 most expensive fruits in the world 2024
01. Yubari King Melon
Price: $30,000 USD
Made in: Hokkaido Island, Japan
Season: Summer
Farmer: Japanese Farmer
Specialty: Very soft and sweet
Weight: 2.5kg
First Introduced: 2014
Color: netted texture
Provider: Japanese Farmer
Why so expensive: Yubari King Melons are so expensive is reportedly their sweetness.
The Yubari King Melon is the number one in our list of most expensive fruits in the world in 2024. It was named after where it is cultivated in Yūbari, Hokkaido, a small city in Japan. Farmed in greenhouses, this rare melon is a hybrid of two other cantaloupe cultivars such as Earl’s Favourite and Burpee’s Spicy Cantaloupe.
A top-graded Yubari King Melon must be shaped perfectly round with a unique smooth rind. It is usually green in color and turns orange when ripe. It is an immensely expensive fruit. A pair of Yubari King Melons was bought at a record price of $30,000 USD at an auction by the Tokyo-based company Pokka Sapporo Food & Beverage Ltd. During the Japanese festival Chūgen, some aristocratic Japanese people give Yubari King melons as presents.
02. Ruby Roman
Price: $8,400 USD
Made in: Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan
Season: Summer
Farmer: Japanese Farmer
Specialty: Each grape has over 20g and 18% sugar content
Weight: 26 grapes (700g)
First Introduced: 2008
Color: Red
Provider:
Why so expensive: that is so royal in taste that they are bound to be expensive
Ruby Roman is one of the most expensive fruits in the world till 2024 that most people know about its history, why it is so much expensive till now.
Do you remember the story of the fox and the crow? After failing, the fox said, “Grapes are sour.” Well, you might need to say the same thing after reading the price tag of a bunch of Ruby Roman grapes, a variety of table grapes.
These premium quality grapes are only grown and marketed in Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan. They are members of the Vitis vinifera species. They have a bright red color like cherry and the size is almost like a ping pong ball.
The Ruby Roman grapes were first introduced in August 2008 and sold for 100,000 Japanese yen in a sale which is about 910 dollars per 700 grams bunch. That means one grape costs 26 dollars. But this expensive grape needs to go through strict checks after production to maintain its quality.
Every grape must contain 18% sugar and weigh over 20 grams and the special premium class grape must weigh over 30 grams and the full bunch over 700 grams. After checking each and every grape it gets a certification seal. In 2024, only six grapes passed the quality check and one bunch was sold for around $8,400 US dollars. The following year no grapes were qualified for premium status.
03. Densuke Watermelon
Price: $6,100 USD
Made in: Hokkaido, Japan
Season: Summer
Farmer: Japanese Farmer
Specialty: Its taste is a little bit sweeter than that of other watermelons.
Weight: 11kg
First Introduced: 2008
Color: Black
Provider: Sembikiya
Why so expensive: Densuke’s extremely dark skin, much sweeter than normal watermelons.
Densuke Watermelon achieved the 2nd position in the top 10 most expensive fruits in the world in 2024. Following the tradition of some unique and expensive Japanese fruits, the Densuke Watermelon is one of the most expensive fruits in the world. It can only be found in Hokkaido, Japan and cultivated by a special process.
According to experts, the flesh of this extremely rare fruit is sweeter and crunchier than regular watermelons and is a little bit pinkish, unusual than the common red color. It is a little rounder in shape and the skin is black and shiny. Because of the limited production, it is high in demand.
As a result, it is way too expensive than regular watermelons. You might find some average Densuke Watermelon at around 250 dollars. But the top graded watermelons are sold at $1,000 US dollars to $4,500 US dollars. In 2014, a Densuke Watermelon was sold at a record $6,100 US dollars in an auction. So buying this fruit might make your social media friends jealous. Gifting one Densuke Watermelon to someone special will surely impress them.
04. Taiyo no Tamago – (Miyazaki Mango)
Price: $4,000 USD
Made in: Miyazaki prefecture, Japan
Season: Summer
Farmer: Japanese Farmer
Specialty: taste a whole lot better than the usual ones
Weight: 350g
First Introduced: 2008
Color: Ruby red
Provider Company:
Why so expensive:
Where mangoes are called the “Kings of Fruits“, Miyazaki Mango, one of the most expensive fruits in the world, is known as “Eggs of the Sun” for its shape and flaming red colour like a ruby. It got its name from a city of Japan named Miyazaki where it is also called Taiyo no Tamago.
It is not only attractive and tasty but also full of antioxidants, beta carotene, and folic acid. A perfect size Miyazaki Mango weighs around 350 grams and goes through strict checking before selling. In the international market, one kilogram Miyazaki Mango can be sold for more than $4,000 US dollars, which makes it one of the most expensive fruits in the world.
05. Cornwall Pineapple
Price: $1,600 USD
Made in: Heligan, Cornwall, United Kingdom
Season: Spring
Farmer: UK Farmer
Specialty:
Weight: 5kg
First Introduced:
Color: Yellow
Provider: The Lost Gardens Heligan
Why so expensive:
No wonder the Cornwall Pineapple is in the 4th our list of the 10 most expensive fruits in the world 2024. This spiky orange fruit is grown in a strictly maintained place in the pineapple pit at the Lost Gardens of Heligan, Mevagissey in Cornwall in a glasshouse heated by horse manure.
It is only about 6 inches, half of the size of a regular pineapple. But the price tag of $1,600 USD might make you feel dizzy. It is so expensive because of its rareness and the amount of care it needs to grow. The temperature must be minimum 11° Celcius to maximum 24° celsius.
To maintain this temperature in winter, horse urine-soaked 30 tonnes of decomposing hay is put in the pit which is refreshed three or four times during the winter months. Along with that, a 15 strong gardening team was needed to take care of it. Because of this extra care and hard work, it has become so valuable. But the producers are now trying to plant more plants and provide artificial maintenance to supply more fruits.
06. Buddha Shaped Pears
Price: $800 USD per kg
Made in: China
Season: Summer
Farmer: Gao Xianzhang
Specialty: Buddha Shaped
Weight: 100g per pears
First Introduced: 2009
Color: shades of green, red, yellow, gold, and brown
Provider: Gao Xianzhang
Why so expensive:
Are there really any Buddha Shaped Pears or is it just Photoshop? Surprisingly, they are real and one of the most expensive fruits in the world. A Chinese farmer named Gao Xianzhang first introduced these baby pears in the market.
These moulted pears shaped like buddha have become extremely popular nowadays. With folded arms, plump tummies, meditative smiles, and character ‘Fu’ (blessing) on them made them very cute and desirable to the consumers and addressed as the ‘the god of fortune pear.’
After getting popular in different regions in China and Vietnam, it is now renowned throughout the world. These tiny pears are sold at a high price, almost at 8 dollars per pears, and as a result, got placed in our list of 10 most expensive fruits in the world.
07. Cherimoya
Price: $300 USD
Made in: Andes Mountains in Ecuador and Peru
Season: Spring
Farmer:
Specialty: Is prized for its velvety texture and sweet flavor
Weight: 235g
First Introduced:
Color:
Provider:
Why so expensive:
Cherimoya also known as Chirimoya is listed 9th in our list of the 10 most expensive fruits in the world. This delicious tropical fruit is mainly found in Central America, eastern South America, Southern California, South Asia, Australia, the Mediterranean region, and North Africa.
Inca people address it as Chirimoya. It got the name Custard Apple for its creamy texture. Famous American writer Mark Twain mentioned it as “the most delicious fruit known to men”. This compound fruit is found in oval, conical, or heart shape with green color. When it ripens it becomes yellow-green.
The flesh is very creamy and has black, hard, shiny seeds. Being a delicate perishable fruit, it needs proper care to grow. It can only be picked by hand while harvesting and handled carefully. This delicious sweet fruit can be eaten raw. In some areas it is famous as “ice cream fruit” as it is chilled and then eaten by spoon.
08. Kiwano (Horned Melon)
Price: $200 USD
Made in: Africa
Season: Summer
Farmer: African Farmer
Specialty:
Weight: 209
First Introduced:
Color: yellow-orange
Provider:
Why so expensive:
The Kiwano or Horned Melon is an exotic fruit found mainly in central and southern parts of Africa such as South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and Angola. It is also known as Cucumis metuliferus, African Horned Cucumber, Spiked Melon, Jelly Melon.
Its skin is covered with small spiny projections or horns. It turns orange when ripes and jelly-like flesh inside is colored lime green. This traditional African fruit tastes like a combination of banana and passionfruit or banana, cucumber, and lime. Besides eating as a snack or salad, it is also used for decoration. Its rarity and nutritional value makes it one of the most expensive fruits in the world.
It is low in calories, carbs, and fat. It is not only rich in Vitamin C and A but also contains Magnesium, Iron, Phosphorus, Zinc, Potassium, etc. It is a good source of water and antioxidants, increases Red Blood Cells, controls blood sugar, and so on.
09. Dragon Fruit
Price: $150 USD
Made in: Mexico
Season: Summer
Farmer: Mexican Farmer
Specialty:
Weight: 150 and 600g
First Introduced:
Color: Red
Provider:
Why so expensive:
One of the most attractive looking fruits, the Dragon Fruit, also known as pitaya or pitahaya is a part of the cactus species. It is cultivated mainly in Southeast Asia, India, the United States, the Caribbean, Australia, Mesoamerica, and throughout tropical and subtropical world regions.
In some places, it is known as Strawberry Pear. Weighing around 150 to 500 grams, its scaly spikes skin and bright red color make it quite fascinating. The flesh is white or red with small black crunchy seeds. Because of its varieties, some are sour and others are sweet.
The texture is jelly-like and quite similar to kiwi fruit for its black crunchy seeds. For color and flavor, it is widely used in juice and alcoholic beverages. It is very popular as a nutritious fruit, containing fatty acids, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid. Nowadays, it is famous in every corner of the world.
10. Durian
Price: $150 USD
Made in: Malaysia
Season: Summer
Farmer: Malaysian Farmer
Specialty:
Weight: 7lb, 3kg
First Introduced:
Color: husk green to brown
Provider:
Why so expensive:
The Durian is one of the most expensive fruits in the world. It has strong odour, and rind is covered with thorn, quite similar to Jackfruit. This round-shaped fruit is generally husk green to brown and the flesh is pale yellow to red in color.
In addition, it is one of the most criticized fruits. Where in some regions it is called the “King of Fruits”, some countries in Southeast Asia have banned Durian. Some actually love this fruit because of its pleasantly sweet fragrance while others really hate it as they think the aroma is overpowering with an unpleasant odour.
The haters describe its as rotten onions, turpentine, and raw sewage. But the admirer like British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace described it as “a rich custard highly flavoured with almonds”. It is very famous in Thailand where there are 300 varieties and in Malaysia where hundreds of varieties are found. The price depends on the quality. The premium quality durian has relatively smaller seed, silky and smooth texture with creamy flavor.
#Top 10 Most Expensive Fruits in the World 2024
- Yubari King Melon – Price: $30,000 USD
- Ruby Roman – Price: $8,400 USD
- Densuke Watermelon – Price: $6,100 USD
- Miyazaki Mango – Price: $4,000 USD
- Cornwall Pineapple – Price: $1,600 USD
- Buddha Shaped Pears – Price: $800 USD
- Cherimoya – Price: $300 USD
- Kiwano (Horned Melon) – Price: $200 USD
- Dragon Fruit – Price: $150 USD
- Durian – Price: $150 USD