The 10 Most Expensive Types of Nuts in the World

August 2024 · 10 minute read

While nuts are one of the healthiest snacks that we enjoy, they also come with a price tag that is rather healthy as well. The most expensive nuts may come with an onerous price point but that does not make them any less delicious, though. The high prices could keep some of us from eating as many nuts as we would like but fortunately, there is no shortage of options to choose from.

To learn more about the most expensive nuts and how they rank, please be sure to check out the following guide. We are happy to make your next shopping trip a much easier one.

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In order to double-check this list and ensure its aptitude, we consulted a number of different sources when it came to pricing and all additional information. We relied on information provided by Damia Global Services, Nuts.com as well as Wikipedia.

11. Hazelnuts – $.61 – $.91 per pound

At a glance:

According to Oregon Live, hazelnut prices have been on a downward trend with the cost being $1.18 in 2016, 96.5 cents in 2017 and now they range between 61 cents and 91 cents.

Capital Press argues that the downward pressure has been due to the China tariffs since China is the major importer of America’s hazelnuts.

Another contributing factor could be the devaluation of Turkish currency, which has consequently reduced hazelnut prices since Turkey produces 75% of the world’s hazelnuts.

10. Pistachios – $2.00 – $2.50 per pound

At a glance:

According to AG NET West, pistachios prices ranged between $2.25 and $2.50 in November 2018, but that might change due to the China tariffs on the nut that increased from 5% to 45%.

Pistachios have their reasons for being among the expensive nuts as Heart of the Desert explains. One of the reasons is that the trees take longer to mature, usually four to five years and the production at the beginning is only a handful; you will have to wait for another 15 years to get maximum productivity.

9. Pecan – $6.99 and up per pound

At a glance:

Region of origin: Southern United States/northern Mexico
Price range (per pound): $6.99 and up
Culinary uses: Various desserts utilize pecans, such as pies, cookies and ice creams
Nutritional benefits: Dietary fiber, magnesium, phosphorus, zinc, iron, B vitamins

When Hurricane Michael wreaked havoc in Georgia, it uprooted some of the pecan trees. Consequently, the supply of the nuts was low and as the law of supply dictates, the expectations were that the market prices would increase.

According to Extension News, before the hurricane, consumer prices were expected to go down due to the China tariffs that went from 7% to 47% on pecans.

Since America exports most of its pecans to China, the tariffs meant flooding the domestic market with the nuts but the prices have remained normal with a pound of hard-shell pecans going for $6.99, paper-shell pecans sell at $7.49 while those without shells have a price tag of $13.99.

8. Brazil nuts – $7.30 per pound

At a glance:

Raw and shelled Brazil nuts go for $7.30 per pound. BBC Good Food discusses Brazil nuts as the richest food in the world in selenium, which is a mineral we need to keep our immune system healthy.

One Brazil nut contains 68-91 micrograms of selenium thus is enough to provide the RDA (recommended daily allowance) for an adult.

For this reason, eating too many Brazil nuts will cause selenium toxicity that leads to hair loss, dizziness, irritability, fatigue, skin rashes among other adverse effects.

7. Walnuts – $8.50 per pound

At a glance:

The price of a pound of raw walnuts at Nuts in Bulk is $8.50, but in China, the case is different. According to China Topix, walnut farmers in China make a killing for their product and some pocket $325,000 per year from their farms.

You might wonder how one can make such a lucrative amount, but the truth is a pair of walnuts with symmetrical ridges and pits can go for as high $26,000.

Chinese are known for their steadfast health practices, and walnuts are not primarily used in the kitchen but for rolling between the palm and fingers for better blood circulation.

6. Cashew nuts – $8.95 per pound

At a glance:

Region of origin: South America
Price range (per pound): $8.95
Culinary uses: Utilized to make various sweets and curries
Nutritional benefits: Protein, dietary fibers and plentiful dietary minerals

Nuts in Bulk are selling their cashew nuts at $8.95 per pound which is a bit on the higher side. The nuts have loads of nutritional benefits such as being a good source of iron, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium.

The high price is because cashew trees grow in sandy and loamy soils, thus limiting their growth areas. Also, as TechnifyBiz explains the processing part is lengthy and reduces the weight of the final product, such a cashew nut weighing 4-6 grams when getting into the factory will weigh 1.5-3 grams by the time processing ends.

5. Chestnuts – $10.99 per pound

At a glance:

Region of origin: Europe, United States, Canada
Price range (per pound): $10.99
Culinary uses: Eaten raw, roasted or used for flour
Nutritional benefits: Vitamin C, protein, B vitamins

According to nuts.com, chestnuts cost $10.99, and upon visiting the site, you will be surprised that the product is out of stock and will be available in November; a fact that could explain why the product is expensive.

Bon Appetit explains that America produces 1% of chestnuts and imports the rest, but that was not always the case. By 1900, chestnuts were accessible to every family in the United States, but in 1904, a fungus-infested Asian chestnut tree planted in the Bronx Zoo erased the population of American chestnut trees gradually.

Today the top five chestnut producers are China, South Korea, Turkey, Bolivia and Italy but the US also has its top five states of chestnut production, and they include California, Virginia, Michigan Florida and Oregon.

4. Almonds – $13.99 per pound

At a glance:

Region of origin: Middle East and Mediterranean regions
Price range (per pound): $13.99
Culinary uses: Eaten on their own or used with flour or oatmeal
Nutritional benefits: Protein, Vitamin B, dietary fiber, essential minerals

At Walmart, raw slivered almonds go for $13.99 a pound with other varieties costing more, also depending on the brand. The climate in which the almond trees can thrive limits their supply since they require fertile soil and a Mediterranean climate.

According to Spoon University, California has an ideal climate; hence it produces 82% of the world’s almond supply, with the remaining percentage being covered by Iran, Morocco and Spain.

According to Wikihow, an almond tree can take five years to start producing nuts, but other varieties might go as long as 12 years before reaching peak production.

3. Pine nuts – $23 per pound

At a glance:

Region of origin: Asia, Europe, North America
Price range (per pound): $23
Culinary uses: meat, fish, salads, vegetable dishes, pesto sauce
Nutritional benefits: food energy, manganese, phosphorus, zinc

If you enjoy raw pine nuts, then you will have to fork out $23 for a pound at Amazon, and you have to wonder why the nuts are expensive. Care2 reasons that that on the entire face of the earth there are only about 18 pine trees that produce harvest-worthy pines.

Moreover, the trees take 6 to 8 years to mature and an additional 2 to 3 years to start producing pine. Further, getting them ready for the market is a labor-intensive process that only adds to its cost.

2. Macadamia nuts – $25 per pound

Region of origin: Australia
Price range (per pound): $25
Culinary uses: Typically consumed raw or used in various desserts
Nutritional benefits: thiamin, B vitamins, iron, magnesium, phosphorus

For a nut to retail at $25 and people continue to buy it, it must be a cherished snack. Macadamia nuts are one of the most expensive nuts in the world but not without reasons.

First of all, they are the nuts with the highest calorie content with 100gms containing 718 calories. Brobible also discusses a few other reasons for the high price such as although macadamia trees are available in 10 varieties only two produce high-quality macadamia nuts.

The trees then take 7-10 years to start producing and flowering takes 4-6 months meaning nuts mature at different times during the year.

1. Pili nuts – $32 per pound

Region of origin: Philippines
Price range (per pound): $32
Culinary uses: salads, oil, candy, brittle
Nutritional benefits: Food energy, protein, mono saturated fats (according to Shape.com)

If you are shopping on Nuts.com, you can expect to spend $32 per pound on pili nuts, making them the most expensive nuts to grace this list by a fairly wide margin. The fact that people are willing to spend this much on pili nuts is surely a testament to how delicious they are.

According to Pili Hunters, there are some good reasons as to why these nuts are so expensive. Whether they are grown commercially or harvested by hand in the wild, this leads to a higher level of expenses. There is a great deal of labor involved in their harvesting, regardless of the method that is used.

In order for laborers to be fairly compensated for the time and effort that they are putting in, the price of pili nuts must rise at a commiserate level. According to ScholarSpace, there is also a lengthy interval before a pili tree provides enough nuts for a commercial operation, which also contributes to the high price. 5 to 6 years are needed before fruit begins to bear and 10 years are needed before an economic yield.

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