A woman spent an extortionate amount of money on a singular strawberry, but there are a few reasons why this fruit, which can be purchased from Harrods, is so expensive
Danielle Kate Wroe Senior Social News Reporter
06:05, 29 Jan 2026
Normally, strawberries will set you back around £2 – but not this singular one from Harrods (Stock Image)(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
A woman decided to treat herself to a Japanese strawberry from Harrods, and the singular fruit came at a jaw-dropping price. Laura Khosaba, who regularly tries treats from different retailers on TikTok, bought the boxed singular strawberry. In Tesco, you can get a punnet of strawberries for £1.99. In Harrods, you can get a singular Japanese strawberry for £15.
Laura said: “Okay, so Harrods have just come out with a premium Japanese strawberry in a gift box, so we got it to try.” It’s a Kotoka strawberry, which is a premium, luxury strawberry brand from Japan’s Nara Prefecture, registered in 2011, known for its deep ruby-red colour, glossy skin, and intense, balanced sweet-tart flavour.
Laura’s mum, Ann, joked in the background that she was expecting the strawberry to “be absolutely mind-blowing for £15,” and Laura giggled as she said they should cut to the chase and try it.
Ann said that it “looks like a normal strawberry,” however, it did definitely appear darker in colour than a strawberry you would find in a supermarket.
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Laura’s mum did say it’s “all about the taste” though, as Laura sniffed it, claiming it has a “very nice, sweet smell”.
She bit into it, and it seemed to have a very juicy texture and seemed incredibly ripe. “Is it mind-blowing, Laura?” her mum asked, as she said: “Oh, that is amazing! No, that’s actually amazing. It’s so sweet!
“That is the best strawberry I’ve ever had. I’m not even exaggerating.”
Her mum went on to say the fruit “actually tasted like strawberries” that she had when she was “growing up” from her own garden. “They don’t taste like that anymore,” her mum seethed.
In the comments, someone wrote: “They probably injected them with sugar syrup, and you paid £15 for it. I am cracking up.”
However, a TikTok user wrote: “Surprisingly, when I was in Japan, all strawberries, even in the normal grocery stores, tasted like candy.”
Another person penned: “3 bites of a strawberry for £15! The world has gone mad.”
A man raged: “You just ate £15 in a couple of bites, or even worse, think of it this way, the majority of people who work in London earn less than that one strawberry per hour”.
Somebody else said: “I bought a punnet in Kyoto for £25 and it was the best strawberries I’ve had.”
Kotoka strawberries are meticulously cultivated to achieve a perfect balance of sweetness, acidity, aroma, and juiciness. Their flavour profile is considered superior, with a rich, fragrant taste that stands out even among premium Japanese strawberries.
They are grown in Nara Prefecture under extremely strict conditions. Farmers use advanced techniques and pay close attention to temperature, humidity, and soil quality. Only strawberries that meet rigorous standards for size, colour, shape, and flavour are allowed to be sold as “Kotoka”.
The production of Kotoka strawberries is intentionally kept limited to ensure quality. This scarcity naturally drives up demand and price.
Kotoka strawberries are often sold in beautifully packaged boxes, sometimes as luxury gifts. In Japanese culture, giving high-quality fruit is a sign of respect and care, making these strawberries highly desirable for special occasions.
Would you try a Kotoka strawberry? Let us know in the comments…
AloJapan.com