7 Common Items That Used To Be Extremely Valuable
When we take a look back through history, we find that many items we now consider commonplace were once rare, exotic, and incredibly valuable. These precious commodities were often out of reach for the majority of people, reserved for royalty and wealthy citizens.
The journey of these items from scarcity to ubiquity tells a fascinating story of human progress, a tale of technological advancements and shifting global economics. Centuries of exploration, agricultural developments, industrial innovations, and the opening of new trade routes transformed our material world. What was once worth its weight in gold may now be found in every household, often used — or even discarded — without a second thought.
Here are some now-common items that have undergone this remarkable transition, from spices that once financed entire cities to beverages that sparked riots and wars.
Salt and Pepper
Salt and pepper were often known as “white gold” and “black gold,” respectively, by merchants of the ancient world. Salt was once essential not just for flavoring food but also for preserving it, making it crucial for survival and expansion. It was transported along the ancient salt routes to markets across Europe, making some citizens, cities, and regions extremely wealthy. The city of Salzburg in Austria, for example, whose name literally means “Salt Castle,” amassed great wealth by trading salt. Pepper, meanwhile, was once so rare and desirable that it was literally worth its weight in gold and was sometimes used as currency. The desire for salt and pepper, along with other spices, was so high that it helped drive European global exploration in the 15th and 16th centuries.
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Aluminum
Aluminum is the most abundant metal found in the Earth’s crust. Today, it is inexpensive and ubiquitous, used in everything from soda cans to aircraft. But before the development of aluminum electrolysis in the late 19th century, it was extremely difficult to extract and refine, making it more precious than gold and silver. In the 1860s, aluminum was so rare that Napoleon III reserved a set of aluminum cutlery for his most honored guests, while those of lesser status had to make do with utensils made of gold. And in 1884, the United States capped the Washington Monument with a 6-pound pyramid of aluminum as a display of its industrial prowess.
Sugar
There’s arguably too much sugar floating around in our modern world, and its overconsumption is the cause of many health issues. But back in medieval Europe, sugar was considered a fine spice and was often kept under lock and key along with other precious items. In Britain around 1300, 1 kilogram (about 2.2 pounds) of sugar cost around £350, equal to roughly $457 today. Four centuries later, sugar was still considered a luxury item. By 1750, there were 120 sugar refineries operating in Britain, but their combined output was only 30,000 tons per year, ensuring that vast profits were to be made by those in control of sugar production. It wasn’t until the 19th century, with the cultivation of sugar beets and the industrialization of production, that sugar became widely available and affordable to the general population.
Ice
Before the invention of artificial refrigeration, ice was a luxury item, particularly in warm climates. From the days of ancient Rome until the late 1800s, ice was harvested from mountains or frozen lakes and rivers and stored in covered pits or purpose-built storage rooms for use in the summer, as a means of keeping food cool or simply for putting in drinks. By the 19th century, ice harvesting had become a major industry. The most notable figure in this burgeoning trade was Frederic Tudor, an American merchant known as the “Ice King.” He made a fortune shipping ice from New England to the Caribbean, South America, Europe, and even as far as India. However, the ice trade eventually collapsed in the early 20th century with the advent of artificial refrigeration and ice-making machines, which made ice a common household item.
Tea
Tea, now the world’s most consumed beverage after water, was once a luxury item in the Western world. Originating in China, where it had been enjoyed for thousands of years, it began to be imported into Europe in the early 1600s. By the 1660s, it reached Britain, where it became a highly fashionable luxury good consumed by those who could afford it. Tea was initially so expensive in Europe that it was kept in locked chests known as tea caddies. The tea trade eventually became a significant factor in global economics and politics. The British East India Company’s monopoly on tea imports to Britain led to widespread smuggling and ultimately played a role in the American Revolution — most memorably in the Boston Tea Party. The British obsession with tea also led to a growing trade imbalance with China (then the primary producer of tea), which eventually sparked open conflict between the two nations. By the end of the 18th century, with taxes on tea greatly reduced and plantations established in India and Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), tea had become more affordable and widely consumed.
Chocolate
Chocolate, now available in countless forms and at varying price points, was once a luxury reserved for the wealthy. We can thank the Maya and Aztecs, both of whom saw it as a gift from the gods and valued cacao beans as highly as any other product. When Europeans encountered chocolate in the Americas, they wasted little time introducing it to Europe. By the end of the 16th century, it had become the drink of the European aristocracies, enjoyed only by the nobility and wealthy merchants. Then, in 1828, the cocoa press was invented, revolutionizing chocolate production and making it available to the masses.
Pineapples
In 1493, Christopher Columbus had his first encounter with a pineapple on the island of Guadeloupe in the West Indies. Like explorers who came after him, he was mightily impressed by the strange, sweet fruit. By the 17th and 18th centuries, pineapples had become an exotic luxury in Europe and North America, available to only the wealthiest consumers. In the American colonies in the 1700s, a single pineapple imported from the Caribbean islands could cost as much as $8,000 in today’s money. And in mid-17th-century Britain, an affluent aristocrat could expect to spend £60 for one pineapple — equivalent to about $14,400 today. Pineapples were such a symbol of wealth and status in Britain that they became a common motif in architecture and design — they can still be seen adorning the rooftops, railings, and doors of many prestigious buildings in London. It wasn’t until the development of steamships and the canning industry in the 19th century that most of the public could even think of tasting a pineapple.
