It is an understatement to say that summer in the Philippines is intense. And when the heat becomes unbearable, many Filipinos cool down with their favorite cold treats, one of which is the cheap ice cream courtesy of mamang sorbetero. But in Japan, an ice cream creation is making rounds on the internet, not just because of its taste and cooling effect but for its hefty price tag.
Byakuya ice cream (Photo from Cellato's website)
Japanese brand Cellato sets a new Guinness World Record for the most expensive ice cream with its creation dubbed Byakuya. The brand sells the ice cream for 873,400 Japanese yen per serving, which is around 351,000 in Philippine peso.
What makes the special dessert expensive is its ingredients. It is made with Phantom White Truffle (rare white truffles grown in Alba, Italy), Parmigiano Reggiano, and traditional Japanese ingredient sake lees, among others. As a finishing touch, Cellato tops it with edible gold leaf.
“It took us over 1.5 years to develop, with a lot of trials and errors to get the taste right,” a Cellato representative told Guinness World Records. “Achieving a Guinness World Records title made the effort all worth it.”
Setting a new world record wasn't part of Cellato's goal. At the core of making the Byakuya is the fusion of European and Japanese ingredients. To make that possible, the brand tapped Tadayoshi Yamada, the head chef of Osaka-based restaurant RiVi, which is known for its “imaginative fusion cuisine.”
An order of the Byakuya comes with a hand-crafted metal spoon made by Takeuchi craftsmen in Fushimi, Kyoto. The spoon is crafted using “techniques and materials used in the construction of temples and shrines.” According to the brand’s website, the ice cream is best paired with sake or an aged white wine.
Apart from the Byakuya, Cellato is now planning to offer more ice cream products playing with luxury ingredients such as champagne and caviar.
How about you? Would you buy this ice cream?
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