The world's most expensive grapes, once priced at 250 million VND per bunch, are now only 275,000 VND.
Ruby Roman grapes, the world's most expensive variety, are grown in Japan, with some bunches once auctioned for up to 250 million VND. Now, with massive cultivation in China, Ruby Roman grapes are flooding the Vietnamese market at a price of only 275,000 VND per bunch.
Every year in Japan, a fruit auction takes place, including Ruby Roman grapes. This special grape variety, grown in Ishikawa Prefecture in central Japan, is renowned for its high sweetness and low acidity. Each grape weighs over 20g. Farmers in Ishikawa Prefecture have been researching and cultivating this rare grape variety for nearly 20 years, and began selling them commercially in 2008.
At the auction, a bunch of 26 grapes fetched the equivalent of 250 million VND – the most expensive grape ever sold.
In Vietnam, Ruby Roman grapes are imported and sold for 5-11 million VND per bunch. According to shop owners, despite being an extremely expensive fruit, customers still line up to buy them because of their uniquely delicious flavor.
Inside the grape are two layers, like the yolks of a chicken egg. One layer has the flavor of Japanese peony grapes, while the other has the taste of a Pioneer grape with wine-like notes. When eaten, these two flavors blend and melt in your mouth, creating a very unique taste.
However, in the last 2-3 years, besides Japanese Ruby Roman grapes, Ruby Roman grapes grown in Yunnan and Taiwan (China) have also appeared on the market. Notably, these grapes are sold at a much cheaper price compared to the Japanese variety.
In recent days, Ruby Roman grapes have been widely advertised and sold on online marketplaces. They are packaged in boxes of two bunches, each weighing approximately 700-800 grams. The price ranges from 275,000 to 340,000 VND per bunch, depending on the variety.
According to advertisements, these grapes are intensely sweet, with a taste of wine blended with candy. They are a Japanese grape variety grown in China, which is why they are widely available on the market at incredibly low prices.
Even Dao Thi Nhan, who sells fruit online in Tran Khat Chan (Hai Ba Trung district, Hanoi), commented that this year the price of Chinese Ruby Roman grapes is even cheaper than before.
Last year, she first imported this type of grape and sold them for 400,000-600,000 VND per bunch, depending on the variety and time of year. Now, with the harvest just beginning, the grapes are available on the market for only 550,000 VND per box of two bunches, which is only 275,000 VND per bunch weighing 750 grams.
"Yesterday was the first shipment of the new grape crop, and I managed to sell nearly 80 bunches," she revealed. Last year, during the peak grape season in mid-July, each shipment brought in around 200 bunches of Ruby Roman grapes.
According to Ms. Nhan, this year the price of grapes will definitely be much cheaper than last year due to the increased supply from China. They can import any quantity they need from large wholesalers.
Ms. Le Thi Thu Nga, a saleswoman at a large fruit chain in Hanoi, said that although both are Chinese grapes, Ruby Roman grapes are less appealing to customers than Milk grapes. Milk grapes are fragrant, moderately sweet, and have large, crisp fruits. In contrast, Ruby Roman grapes are intensely sweet, with a slight hint of wine-like aroma.
However, despite only being offered for sale on the weekend afternoon, after just one night, more than 300 bunches had already been purchased. This shipment of grapes will arrive in the next day or two so she can fulfill customer orders.
On her first trip back three days ago, Ms. Nga sold almost 200 bunches. She's currently selling them for 340,000 VND per bunch. The shop sells them individually, but most customers choose to buy a whole box of two bunches.
"This type of grape has a certain base of regular customers. Many others buy it out of curiosity, wanting to taste what this grape, once known as the most expensive in the world, tastes like," she shared.
