Let’s start with a fun, affordable luxury from the Hebei province of China. Farmer Hao Xianzhang created special Buddha-shaped moulds to grow his pears, which have since gained popularity as a juicy and unique household gift; priced at about AU$11 per fruit.

Cultivated since 1974, these Japanese apples can grow up to 38cm wide and weigh close to 1kg per fruit. One of the largest apple variants in the world, with superb juicy sweetness and crunchy texture. They’re also washed in honey before being sold. Guess that’s why they cost up to AU$27 per fruit, with a name that literally means ‘The World’s No.1 Apple’.

This Japanese citrus that looks like a cartoon cannonball is a hybrid of two hybrids – the Kiyomi (mikan x orange), and the Ponkan (mandarin orange x pomelo). Dekopans are seedless and sweeter than average oranges and have a lower acidic content. The firm but tender skin makes for easy peeling and instant enjoyment. In Japan, they are usually sold in 6-fruits packs that cost AU$100 apiece.

Vibrant red, impeccably shaped, topped with perfect green leaves and tastes soothingly sweet. The Sembikiya Queen Strawberries are named after one of the oldest and most venerable fruit shops in Japan. Meticulously grown, picked and packaged like individual rubies in gorgeous gift boxes. Each pack of 12 fruits are priced at around AU$85-$100.

Watermelons grown into square/cube-shaped wonders can cost up to AU$120 in Japan. Some sources cite graphic designer Tomoyuki Ono as their inventor, who presented these unique melons in a Tokyo art gallery in 1978 before introducing the technique to fruit-growers. Others claim it was first grown by creative farmers in 1980, from Zentsuji city in the Kagawa Prefecture. Whichever the case, square watermelons were originally created as a compact alternative to better fit in fridges, but quickly turned into a delightful trendy gift for display and decoration instead. Some had even developed variants which stay unripe for that purpose.

The beloved ‘king of fruits’ among Southeast Asians, durians are most widely cultivated in Thailand and Malaysia; each producing their own unique variants and flavours. But the true ‘king’ remains the Gaan Yao durian from the lowland riverside orchards of Nonthaburi Province - distinguished by its smaller thorns, supple flesh, and well-balanced creamy flavour. One regular Gaan Yao durian can cost up to AU$750; while in 2019, the most expensive Gaan Yao ever recorded, actually fetched over AU$60,000 at an auction.

Smooth oval-shaped, with vibrant rosy skin, and tender juicy flesh of amazing sweetness that melts in your mouth, the Taiyo no Tamago is the yummiest mango you’ll ever find. Also larger than most regular mangoes. Lovingly cultivated, with only the healthiest and well-shaped fruits selected for growth; each wrapped in nursing nets and cared for till ready for harvest. The name means ‘Egg of the Sun’, and to present or receive it as a gift, is considered an honour in Japan. Packed and sold in artful boxes like large jewellery, each fruit can cost up to AU$65. The highest price recorded at an auction so far was AU$3800 for a pair.

Cultivated in the Ishikawa Prefecture, and selected through stringent criteria. Each Ruby Roman Grape is about the size of a ping-pong ball and must weigh at least 20g with 18% sugar content – besides having the perfect shape, colour, suppleness, and glow of every single fruit. Just one of these divine grapes can be prized up to AU$500. Yes, one grape, not the bunch. Premium-grade Ruby Romans are so rare, that a cluster of 26 grapes went up to AU$11,000 at a 2015 auction.

Smooth, glossy-black, ball-shaped and sized like a large coconut, the Densuke watermelon is another Japanese invention. Crunchier, juicier and sweeter than regular watermelons. Only about 10,000 Densuke-s are produced annually, exclusive from Hokkaido. During growth, the melons are carefully shielded from sunlight to develop their dark sheen; nurtured in rich soil and freshwater. Available in Japanese luxury food markets for a limited time every year, they are usually sold at about AU$320 per piece. The highest price recorded for a single Densuke watermelon was AU$7800.

Also from Hokkaido, is the revered Yubari King Melon. The most expensive fruit in Asia, and the world. The average price for just one Yubari King is a whopping AU$15,500. A pair was sold in a 2019 auction for AU$58,000. Cantaloupe or melon farming is a prestigious industry in Japan, and the Yubari King is the absolute best of them all. Perfectly round with exceptionally smooth rind, and tender, succulent flesh with distinctive umami sweetness. The melons are expertly selected and nurtured during every stage of the plant’s growth, in air-conditioned greenhouses that ensure optimal temperature all-year-round.