Saffron (Kesar): It is one of the most expensive spices in the world. This spice is manually extracted from the flower of Crocus sativus. It blooms only twice a year. Every 500 grams of saffron costs around Rs 83,000 as per reports of TOI.
Fennel Pollen: It is a common spice in households but the small flower is very rare. The harvesting process of the pollen flower is extremely difficult. Every 28 grams of the flower costs around Rs 2,500.
Vanilla beans: The authentic vanilla beans cost around Rs 1,700 for 6-8 pods.
Pink peppercorns: These are dried berries rich in dietary fibre and antioxidants. The pink peppercorns are native to the Peruvian Andes.
Cloves: These flower buds are sensitive to weather conditions and they have to be hand-picked when reach a certain length. This lengthy and difficult process makes the cloves expensive.
Long pepper: It is more intense in flavour than the regular black pepper. They are among the most expensive spices in the world.
Black cumin seeds: This spice is native to India, Iran, Morocco, and Egypt. These are smaller and thinner than regular cumin.
Kaffir Lime leaves: These leaves are extensively used in Thai, Vietnamese, and Indonesian cuisine. These are very difficult to harvest making them one of the most expensive spices in the world.
Ceylon cinnamon: This sweet and delicate spice is exclusively produced in Sri Lanka. It is sold at high rates on the global market.