28,000 Won per Berry... What Exactly Is the Strawberry Variety Grown in Japan's 'Strawberry Kingdom'?

$19 Per Strawberry
Mixed Reactions from Netizens Who Tasted the Strawberries

Erewhon, a high-end grocery chain in Los Angeles, USA, is making headlines for selling strawberries priced at $19 (about 28,000 KRW) per piece.

On the 9th (local time), foreign media such as NBC and UPI reported that Elly Amai strawberries imported from Kyoto, Japan, are being sold at an absurdly high price at Erewhon, and many netizens have been leaving reviews after tasting the strawberries.

The upscale grocery chain Erewhon in Los Angeles, USA, has attracted attention for selling strawberries priced at $19 each (approximately 28,000 KRW). On the 9th (local time), NBC and other foreign media reported that Elly Amai strawberries imported from Kyoto, Japan, are being sold at an outrageous price at Erewhon, and many netizens have been leaving reviews after tasting the strawberries. Erewhon

These strawberries are grown in Tochigi Prefecture, known as the so-called "Strawberry Kingdom" of Kyoto, Japan. The reason these strawberries became famous is that influencer Alisa Antoch posted a video tasting and reviewing the strawberries on the short-form video platform TikTok. In the video, Alisa Antoch praised the strawberries, saying, "The best strawberries I have ever eaten." The video has recorded over 17.6 million views.

The reason this strawberry became famous is that influencer Alisa Antochi posted a video tasting and reviewing this strawberry on the short-form video platform TikTok. In the video, Alisa Antochi praised the strawberry, saying it was "the best strawberry I have ever eaten." The video has garnered over 17.6 million views. Alisa Antochi SNS

People who watched this video followed Antoch by posting videos about the strawberries on TikTok and Instagram, evaluating the price and taste of the strawberries. Afterward, many people wanted to taste these premium strawberries themselves. One TikTok user commented, "The taste is good, but is it worth $19? No," adding, "Honestly, I've eaten cheaper strawberries that taste just as good." Another netizen responded, "It's not an extremely special taste, but it's worth trying for the experience." Other reactions included, "Is the shipping fee $18?" "I'm Japanese, but Japanese strawberries don't taste good," "Seems like they haven't tried Korean strawberries," and "The individual packaging causes serious environmental pollution."

As controversy over the strawberry price spread, on the 27th of last month, a spokesperson for Elly Amai, the seller of the strawberries, told UPI, "If you can eat fresh Japanese strawberries, the price is understandable," and added, "Don't dislike or judge without trying them." Meanwhile, Erewhon, which sells these strawberries, recently gained fame as a market selling the organic premium "Hailey Bieber Smoothie," priced at $19 (about 28,000 KRW) per cup.