If you were asked to name the most expensive food in the world, how would you answer? Oysters are expensive, but you can buy them quite cheaply these days. Perhaps it could be lobster or the famous fish eggs known as caviar from the great sturgeon fish? What about the liver from a duck or goose? All these answers are good, but sadly wrong. The answer is potato.

Yes, you read that correctly, but perhaps we need to provide some additional information. The most expensive food in the world is indeed a potato, but it is a very special variety. They are called La Bonnotte potatoes. They come from a tiny island called Noirmoutier Island, off the coast of Brittany, France. And even there they can only be grown in a certain area of the island, away from the wind and protected from the cold weather.

The island farmers began to plant these special potatoes in 1920. They grow well in the sandy soil. In the autumn, the farmers collect seaweed from the seaside and spread it over the land where the potatoes will be planted. Traditionally, the potatoes are planted by hand on the second day of February – the day of the Christian festival called Candlemas. The potatoes are harvested – once again by hand – 90 days later in early May.

Ten thousand tons of potatoes are grown on the island, but only 100 tons of these are La Bonnette. Once collected, the sandy soil is rubbed off by hand before the potatoes are washed in water. They are no larger than the size of your thumb and their yellow skin is very fine. It is said that most of the flavour is actually contained in the skin, so you do not peel them. That would be a waste. You can cook the potatoes in many different ways. Some prefer to boil them in water. Others like to fry them in butter.

The potatoes only last about ten days once they have been pulled from the ground. There is a festival on the island where everyone can enjoy this tiny luxury, but most of the La Bonnette are taken to the best restaurants in Paris. It is understood that they can sell for HK$4,500 per kilo!

You are now probably feeling hungry. You may also be curious to know what these potatoes taste like. The seaweed placed on the soil before the potatoes are planted provides a unique taste of iodine. The salty rain also gives a salty flavour. They are said to be sweet and nutty with a small hint of lemon. They sound good to us. What would they be like when deep fried, like chips?

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VIDEO: The most expensive potatoes in the world.

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