In a world dominated by Instagram, TikTok and X influencers, we’re constantly bombarded with must-try items we can’t live without.
Our wallets are never far from the latest indulgence — from wellness products to trending snacks.
A new TikTok video — which has more than 16.4 million views, according to People — showcases the latest luxury craze: A $19 strawberry that’s come all the way from Japan to the shelves of a high-end Los Angeles grocery store called Erewhon.
Is this consumerism gone too far, or just another harmless, fun trend?
TikTok goes viral for taste testing the $19 strawberry
In the TikTok, influencer Alyssa Antoci reveals that the strawberry comes from Kyoto, Japan.
Imported by the Japanese supplier Elly Amai, the fruit is individually packaged on a cushioned throne within a domed container, according to The Washington Post.
Elly Amai and Erewhon told Today that the strawberry is grown in “Tochigi Prefecture,” also known as the “Strawberry Kingdom.” The high-priced berries represent the pinnacle of “Japanese luxury fruit culture,” according to Today.
The Tochiaika strawberries are made to be exceptionally sweet, scoring an average of 16 to 19 on the Brix meter — a tool that measures sugar content. By comparison, a typical strawberry scores between six to nine, per The Washington Post.
For those venturing into this world of luxury fruit, the $19 strawberry is an entry level purchase, especially when compared to the $260 Miyazaki mango and $395.99 Rubyglow pineapple from Fresh Del Monte, according to Today.
A representative at Erewhon told Today that the strawberry is priced the same as it would be in Japan, possibly even less. The fruit is picked just two days before LA shoppers enjoy its sweet juice.
In the TikTok, Antoci says, “Yeah, that is the best strawberry I’ve ever had in my life.”
What people are saying about a $19 strawberry
As expected, TikTok viewers have plenty to say about the pricey single strawberry.
Here are some of our favorite comments:
- “Watching from district 12,” said one TikTok user.
- “This is so dystopian,” commented another.
- “Who else thinks Erewhon is a social experiment to see what some people will spend on?” one TikTok viewer asked.
Whether or not TikTok viewers are in support of the strawberry, since Erewhon stocked its shelves with the elite fruit, the strawberry has been hard to get ahold of. The sensation has been known to sell out, reported People.
As some have turned to TikTok to mock the grocery chain and those willing to spend $19 on one strawberry, many others have run to Erewhon to try it themselves.
Taste testers shared their thoughts, with some claiming it tastes, “candy coated” and others declaring, “I would pay $100 for that.” Meanwhile, another TikTok taster said, “That tastes like a regular strawberry.”