Hold onto your cone: the world’s priciest ice cream is here to challenge your taste buds and your wallet. Byakuya, meaning “white night” in Japanese, has officially claimed the title of the most expensive ice cream in the world, according to Guinness World Records. This frozen delicacy, crafted by the Japanese ice cream brand Cellato, comes with a jaw-dropping price tag of 880,000 yen ($6,380) per serving.
Cellato describes Byakuya as a gelato on their website, paying homage to its Italian origins. The star ingredient is sourced exclusively from Alba, Italy, renowned for its exceptional white truffles. According to the Guinness World Records website, these prized truffles can command up to two million yen (USD $14,500) per kilogram.
To create this extravagant treat, Byakuya is adorned with edible gold leaf, two types of cheese, and a paste-like ingredient called “Sakekasu,” derived from the sake-making process. The development of Byakuya took over 1.5 years, involving numerous trials and errors to perfect the taste, as revealed by a representative from Cellato to Guinness World Records.
Cellato’s objective extends beyond crafting exorbitantly priced desserts; it aims to create a fusion of European ingredients and traditional Japanese cuisine. To achieve this, they enlisted the expertise of Tadayoshi Yamada, the head chef at RiVi, a renowned Osaka-based restaurant known for its French-Japanese fusion cuisine, according to Guinness World Records.
While the dessert is currently available for purchase in Japan and shipped directly to consumers, Cellato provides detailed instructions on how to savor this extravagant creation. Customers are advised to add the white truffle precisely when the ice cream reaches the desired texture, using the handcrafted metal spoon provided. If the ice cream is too hard, defrosting it at room temperature or microwaving it at 500 watts for 10 to 20 seconds is recommended.
Although the Guinness World Records team has yet to sample Byakuya, Cellato’s staff who had the opportunity to taste it described the treat as “rich in taste and texture.” They also suggested pairing it with sake or a French white wine for an enhanced experience.
Cellato has ambitious plans to expand its luxury product line further, intending to include Champagne and caviar in the future, alongside its existing black truffle-based offering.
Cellato’s Byakuya has captured the world’s attention with its astonishing price tag, combining the finest Italian white truffles, exquisite ingredients, and a meticulous culinary experience that merges European and Japanese influences.
Source: CNN
https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/japan-most-expensive-ice-cream-intl-hnk/index.html
