The World's Most Expensive Grapes?

Described as 'delicious sweet, but at the same time well balanced', these Ruby Roman grapes are being touted in Japan as the 'dream grapes' - with a price tag of almost $910USD for 1.5 lbs or about $30USD per grape, one would expect nothing less!

At least that was what this first batch of a new variety of grapes sold for, at a local market in Japan, on Monday. The buyer was the manager of Kagaya, an upscale Japanese style Bed and Breakfast. He bought it as a treat for his special regular guests who were staying in the most expensive rooms. Each of the special guests received two golf-sized grapes to taste.

The average price paid for the remaining 48 bunches of grapes, while not as high, was still a respectable $245 USD per pound! However, in Japan where fruit sells at a premium, these kinds of prices are not uncommon for first batches of really special fruits.

In this case, the Ruby Roman is a completely new variety of grape that has taken the Japanese farmers almost 14 years to grow and perfect. They are hoping that they will continue to fetch premium prices and maybe someday, they may even be able to export them - and then, we can all try a $30USD grape.

As for what the guests at the Inn thought about these exorbitantly expensive treats - 'not excessively sweet, but fresh, delicious and juicy' - YUM!

Source: CNBC.com, Yahoonews