The Most Expensive Spices & Why They Cost So Much

BY: ANAMIKA AGARWALA

Saffron is costly because each thread must be hand-picked from delicate crocus flowers.

Saffron 

Vanilla grows slowly and requires hand-pollination, making production extremely time-consuming.

Vanilla

Long pepper is pricey due to its niche cultivation and low global availability.

Long Pepper

This spicy seed is expensive because it grows mainly in limited regions with labour-heavy harvesting.

Grains Of Paradise

Cardamom prices soar because the plant needs precise growing conditions and skilled processing.

Cardamom

Cloves are costly as the trees take years to mature & the spice is globally in demand.

Clove

True Ceylon cinnamon is expensive due to the delicate manual peeling required to extract fine bark.

Cinnamon