The World's Most Expensive Liquids: Unique Production Processes

Kenji's mastery of traditional black vinegar production in Japan ensures its unique quality and high demand, despite expansion challenges.

### The World's Most Expensive Liquids: From Black Vinegar to Camel Milk
* 💰  Blood plasma, scorpion venom, and single malt whiskey are among the most expensive liquids, but a unique Japanese black vinegar known as **kururu** can cost **up to $13 million per liter**.
* 🍶  Kururu is made in Fukuyama, Japan, where **52,000 ceramic jars** age the vinegar for **up to five years**, with each batch being carefully monitored by **Brew Master Kenji Tachi**.
* 🌾  The process begins with **steaming brown rice** and mixing it with a mold used in **sake production**, followed by a **natural fermentation process** that takes advantage of the region's **warm climate**.
* 🏺  Sakamuru, one of the few remaining producers, utilizes **200-year-old fermentation methods**, but struggles with production limitations due to **land scarcity**.
* 🥢  The vinegar is sought after by chefs for its **smooth taste** and is sold at various aging stages, with prices **increasing significantly** for older, richer varieties.
* 📈  Despite the challenges of production, demand for kururu continues to grow, especially after it received **geographical indication certification** in 2015, similar to how **champagne is produced**.
* 🌍  Other expensive liquids include red palm oil from Nigeria, artisanal rice syrup from South Korea, camel milk from the Middle East, and East African shea butter, all of which face **unique production challenges** and **rising global demand**.
* 🍷  The popularity of mezcal in Mexico has surged, but traditional producers are struggling with **certification regulations and competition from larger brands**, impacting their ability to **maintain their craft**.

### The Journey of Unique Natural Products: From Cactuses to Honey
* 🌵  At just four years old, Katalina is one of the **last kachan producers in Mexico**, working on her farm in Waka, where she cultivates cactuses to harvest the **valuable cochineal insects**.
* 🧤  Farmers wear gloves to protect themselves from cactus needles while cutting the paddles, which are essential for nurturing the cactuses that produce the **cochineal dye**.
* 🧼  After washing the cactuses with soap and water, Katalina carefully places tiny houses for the bugs, known as **cachan**, on the paddles, ensuring they **remain intact as they spread**.
* 🐛  The female cochineal insects are harvested for their **carminic acid**, which is used to produce a **vibrant red dye**, historically valued for its **durability and brilliance**, making it a favorite among artists and fashion designers.
* 💰  Despite the high demand for carmine in food and cosmetics, Katalina's production has drastically declined from **400 kilos to an expected 50 kilos** due to market pressures and the pandemic, leading her to switch to **tomato farming**.
* 🇵🇪  In contrast, Peru dominates the cochineal market by producing a **wild variety of the insect**, which grows outdoors with **less farmer involvement**, highlighting the challenges faced by Mexican producers.
* 🧑‍🏫  Katalina aims to educate visitors about cochineal farming while advocating for **investments that could help revive the industry**, as she continues to care for her cactuses and tiny bugs amidst **dwindling production**.
* 🍯  Meanwhile, the honey industry showcases the **risks and rewards of harvesting mad honey** in Nepal, a rare and valuable product, as local traditions and environmental challenges shape the **future of these unique natural resources**.

### The High Cost of Unique Liquids: From Honey to Horse Semen
* 🍯  Manuka honey stands out with its **thick, strong, chestnutty flavor**, which is **less sweet and smoother** than regular honey, making it a unique delicacy that often requires **lab testing before sale**.
* 🍶  Traditional soy sauce production involves a meticulous fermentation process lasting **days** and aging for **years**, starting with high-quality soybeans that are steamed and combined with barley and mold spores to create a **complex flavor**.
* 🍚  Sake production is an intricate process that begins with polishing rice, where the **most expensive varieties require over 200 days of careful polishing** to achieve a refined taste, with some bottles selling for **nearly $10,000**.
* 🌹  Bulgarian rose oil, known for its unique scent profile, is produced from thousands of rose petals, requiring **up to 5,000 kg to create just 1 kg of oil**, making it **highly sought after by luxury fragrance brands**.
* 🦠  Horseshoe crab blood, valued at **$660,000 per gallon**, is essential in the medical industry for detecting bacterial contamination in vaccines, leading to the collection of these crabs, which raises concerns about their **population sustainability**.
* 🥃  The single malt whiskey market has seen a surge, with bottles like Glenfiddich commanding **high prices** due to their aging process and the rarity of older whiskies, with some bottles fetching **over $1.5 million at auction**.
* 🐍  Venom from snakes is harvested for antivenom production, a process that can **save lives** but poses risks to the snakes, prompting research into **synthetic alternatives** to reduce the strain on their populations.
* 🐎  Horse semen is among the most expensive liquids, with high-quality straws selling for around **$1,200**, and the world's most valuable stallion, Galileo, potentially yielding semen worth **up to $49 million per gallon**, highlighting the financial stakes in thoroughbred breeding.

The 26 Most Expensive Liquids We've Ever Covered | Business Insider Marathon

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The Art of Making Expensive Black Vinegar in Japan

Japanese black vinegar, known as kururu, is made in a unique 200-year-old fermentation process, with one batch taking up to 5 years to age.

The vinegar's production is limited by the availability of land for ceramic jars, which play a crucial role in the fermentation process.

Despite the challenges, kururu has gained popularity among chefs and customers for its smooth taste and health benefits, leading to a growing demand for its vinegar-based products.

The Process of Harvesting Palm Oil and Its Challenges

Victor faces the danger of snakes while climbing palm trees for fruit, leading some workers to collect husks from the ground instead.

The process of transforming palm fruits into red palm oil involves multiple labor-intensive steps, including dehusking, boiling, and pressing.

The global palm oil industry's shift from West Africa to Southeast Asia, along with climate change and other factors, has led to a decrease in palm fruit supply and a rise in oil prices, while the demand for coconut oil has surged, causing farmers in the Philippines to struggle to meet it.

The Health Benefits and Supply Challenges of Coconut and Camel Milk

Coconut oil is praised for its potential health benefits, but scientific studies have been inconclusive, leading to skepticism from nutritionists.

The demand for coconut oil has surged, driven by its use in popular products like alternative meats, but the supply is dwindling as many coconut trees in Asia near the end of their productive cycle.

On the other hand, camel milk production is low compared to cow milk, but its demand is rising, leading to high prices and intensive labor for milking.

The Process and Challenges of Aloe Vera and Shea Butter Production

Aloe vera leaves are processed quickly, with a focus on precision and speed, to extract the gel used in products.

The aloe market is unregulated, leading to synthetic and misleading products, while the scientific proof of aloe's healing powers is inconclusive.

East African shea butter, from the nyoa subspecies, is in high demand for its quick absorption and is produced primarily by organized women's groups in Uganda, using a labor-intensive process.

The Process of Producing East African Shea Butter and Mezcal

East African shea butter is produced through a heat-processed method, with the oil separated from the nut paste and packaged for local sale.

Cold-pressed shea butter, which is more refined and expensive, is gaining popularity for its high-quality production and desirable properties.

Mezcal production in Mexico involves a traditional process of harvesting, cooking, fermenting, and distilling agave, with the spirit's popularity causing some producers to struggle with certification and maintaining their traditional methods.

The Art of Distilling Mezcal and Making Rice Syrup

Mezcal production involves a complex distillation process, with the agave fibers heated to release alcohol vapor, which is then condensed and collected in jugs.

The industry's growth in the 2010s led to increased regulation and certification, but the process has become costly and challenging for small producers.

Meanwhile, the artisanal production of rice syrup in South Korea involves a delicate fermentation process, with traditional methods resulting in a higher price and unique flavors compared to mass-produced alternatives.

The Traditional Process of Making Rice Syrup and the Struggle of Kachal Bug Producers

Yun and Sujin use a meticulous process to steam rice for syrup, with rice as the main resource in South Cha Province.

The rice syrup production involves sprouted barley, fermentation, and careful cooking in a traditional iron pot.

Meanwhile, Kachal bug producers in Mexico face challenges in maintaining their ancient tradition of dye production, as synthetic dyes and animal rights activism lead to a decline in cultivation.

Kachal, a bug used for dye, has a long history in Mexico and was brought to Europe by Hernán Cortés, quickly replacing European dyes.

Catalina, one of the last kachal growers in Mexico, has been struggling to keep the production alive due to declining demand and the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Peru has emerged as the dominant producer, offering a cheaper and more sustainable option, leading to a growing global demand for kachal once again.

Americans supply two-thirds of the world's blood plasma, driven by the need for cash.

Donors can earn up to $6,000 a year by donating plasma twice a week, with the process taking longer than a typical blood donation.

The demand for plasma-based drugs is rising, leading to a boom in private donation centers, which are often located in areas with lower minimum wages and higher poverty rates.

The Unique Practices of Plasma Donation and Argan Oil Production

The US has lenient plasma donation policies, leading to a large and lucrative system, but the health effects of frequent donations are unknown.

Argan oil, sourced from Morocco's argan tree, has seen a rise in popularity, benefiting the local economy and ecosystem.

The traditional honey hunting practice in Nepal, involving risky climbs and unique rituals, has been passed down for centuries and is now gaining global attention.

The Honey Hunting Tradition and Jasmine Oil Production in Nepal

Honey hunting in Nepal is a centuries-old tradition, with locals relying on the unique mad honey for its medicinal properties.

The global demand for mad honey has led to over-harvesting and a decline in bee populations due to climate change.

Meanwhile, jasmine oil production in India involves a labor-intensive process of plucking thousands of buds, with the oil's high cost driven by the flower's rarity and the extensive labor required for extraction.

The Process and Value of Jasmine Oil and Oil Paint

Jasmine flowers, particularly Sambac, are rich in indole, which gives them an appealing aroma and drives up their cost.

The extraction process for Jasmine oil involves using a solvent to create a concrete, which is then treated with alcohol to obtain the absolute oil.

Oil paint has a long history, with its cost driven by high-quality pigments, and the most sought-after pigments have been worth more than gold throughout history.

True champagne can only be produced in the Champagne region of France, which is home to the world's most prestigious champagne sellers.

The region's unique climate and soil contribute to the elevated prices and exclusive production of over 300 million bottles annually.

Despite the global demand and imitation, only champagne from this specific region carries the history and prestige associated with the brand.

The Unique Process of Manuka Honey and Traditional Soy Sauce

Manuka honey is tested for unique compounds like DHA, MGO, and HMF to ensure its antimicrobial properties, with additional tests for leptosperin to trace its botanical origin.

The honey's high demand has led to reports of theft and poisoning, while its health benefits remain unproven despite positive laboratory results.

On the other hand, traditional soy sauce is made through a lengthy fermentation and aging process, with a focus on using high-quality ingredients and unique methods, resulting in complex flavors and higher prices for longer-aged sauces.

Printer ink is often more expensive than vintage champagne and human blood, with the cost of cartridges driving the price.

The expensive cartridge model is a result of companies selling printers at a loss and making money through ink sales.

Additionally, manufacturers use tactics like microchips and firmware updates to prevent the use of affordable third-party ink, creating a cycle of dependency for consumers.

The Unique Process of Sake and Rose Oil Production

Sake production involves multiple parallel fermentation, with Nanami monitoring the mash for a month before pressing and bottling it.

Despite sake's legacy in Japan, it isn't the drink of choice for younger people.

In Bulgaria's Rose Valley, harvesters collect roses for oil extraction, with the process being time-sensitive to ensure potency and value.

The Value of Bulgarian Rose Oil and Horseshoe Crab Blood

Bulgarian rose oil is in high demand, with the market expected to grow at 6.

8% annually until 2025, driven by its organic production.

Horseshoe crab blood, used for its unique clotting agent, is extremely expensive at $660,000 per gallon and is crucial for medical testing.

The extraction process has raised concerns about the crabs' survival, leading to their vulnerable status and efforts to find a synthetic alternative.

The Unique World of Whiskey and Snake Venom

A rare hand-painted bottle of whiskey, distilled in 1926 and bottled in 1986, highlights the demand for exclusive spirits, with Japanese producers like Suntory driving prices up.

The lab in Australia, specializing in milking venomous snakes, plays a crucial role in producing antivenom, with the unique cocktail of toxins in each snake's venom posing significant dangers.

The process of milking snakes and using horse blood to produce antivenom demonstrates the intricate relationship between these animals and the life-saving treatments they provide.

The Life-Saving Impact of Antivenom Production

A lab converts plasma from a farm into antivenom, producing 120,000 vials a year to combat snake bites.

Despite its effectiveness, access to quality antivenom is limited, leading to 137,000 snake bite deaths annually, with rural areas facing the greatest challenges.

Efforts are being made in Kenya to improve antivenom access, while researchers are exploring lab-based antibody production to make treatment more affordable and accessible.

The Lucrative Business of Scorpion Venom and Horse Semen

Scorpion venom is being researched for its medical benefits, leading to a growing demand and the invention of a remote control machine for faster milking.

Horse semen is one of the most expensive liquids, with a single straw worth $1,200 and a gallon potentially worth $49 million.

The horse breeding industry is driven by genetics, with wealthy investors paying high prices for proven winner semen, while the ethical concerns of artificial insemination and the controversial practices in thoroughbred breeding add to the industry's complexity.