Throughout history, some foods were so rare or sought after that they were worth their weight in gold—or even more. These ingredients didn’t just satisfy hunger; they shaped economies, sparked wars, and symbolized power. Here are 15 foods that were once treasured like jewels.
1. Saffron
Why It Was Valuable: Harvested from the tiny stigmas of crocus flowers, saffron requires thousands of blossoms for just one ounce.
Historical Fun Fact: Ancient Persians used saffron as medicine, dye, and even as a luxury perfume. It’s still one of the world’s most expensive spices today.
2. Black Pepper
Why It Was Valuable: Known as “black gold,” pepper was a highly prized spice in ancient Rome and medieval Europe.
Historical Fun Fact: Pepper was so valuable it was used to pay taxes and dowries during the Middle Ages.
3. Salt
Why It Was Valuable: Essential for preserving food before refrigeration, salt was once as valuable as currency.
Historical Fun Fact: The word “salary” comes from the Latin word for salt because Roman soldiers were paid in it.
4. Cinnamon
Why It Was Valuable: Exotic and mysterious, cinnamon was imported from distant lands, making it a luxury item in ancient Greece and Rome.
Historical Fun Fact: Traders kept its origins secret for centuries, claiming it came from mythical sources to maintain high prices.
5. Nutmeg
Why It Was Valuable: This tiny seed sparked wars between European powers in the 1600s because of its rarity and demand.
Historical Fun Fact: At one point, nutmeg was worth more than gold in weight in Europe.
6. Tea
Why It Was Valuable: Originally from China, tea was a luxury that became a cultural obsession in places like Britain and Japan.
Historical Fun Fact: The Boston Tea Party wasn’t just a protest—it destroyed a fortune’s worth of this precious cargo.
7. Chocolate (Cacao)
Why It Was Valuable: Used as currency by the Aztecs, cacao beans were considered gifts from the gods.
Historical Fun Fact: The Aztec emperor Montezuma reportedly drank 50 cups of cacao a day for strength and vitality.
8. Coffee
Why It Was Valuable: Coffee fueled trade and empire-building in the Middle East, Europe, and the Americas.
Historical Fun Fact: In the 17th century, coffee was so prized that people smuggled plants to break the Arab monopoly on its production.
9. Sugar
Why It Was Valuable: Known as “white gold,” sugar was once so rare it was reserved for the wealthy elite.
Historical Fun Fact: The European craze for sugar drove the establishment of colonial plantations and the transatlantic slave trade.
10. Vanilla
Why It Was Valuable: Derived from orchids, vanilla was notoriously difficult to cultivate and pollinate, making it a rare luxury.
Historical Fun Fact: It wasn’t until the 19th century that artificial pollination made vanilla more accessible.
11. Rice
Why It Was Valuable: In ancient Asia, rice wasn’t just food—it was a symbol of wealth and power.
Historical Fun Fact: Chinese emperors were buried with rice to ensure prosperity in the afterlife.
12. Honey
Why It Was Valuable: Before sugar, honey was the primary sweetener and a prized commodity.
Historical Fun Fact: In ancient Egypt, honey was often placed in tombs as a gift for the dead—and some of it is still edible today!
13. Olive Oil
Why It Was Valuable: Used for cooking, lighting, and skincare, olive oil was a symbol of wealth in ancient Greece and Rome.
Historical Fun Fact: The winners of ancient Olympic games were often crowned with olive wreaths and given jars of oil as prizes.
Related: 10 Foods You Didn’t Know Were Good for Digestion
14. Truffles
Why It Was Valuable: These fungi were a delicacy in ancient Rome, where they were thought to have mystical powers.
Historical Fun Fact: Truffles were so rare that kings and nobles sent out hunters with trained pigs to find them.
Related: 15 Discontinued 90s Foods (and Drinks) We Want Back
15. Pineapples
Why It Was Valuable: In the 18th century, pineapples were a symbol of wealth and status in Europe, often rented out for display.
Historical Fun Fact: Pineapples were so rare that owning one meant you were part of the social elite.