Hong Kong's $16,000 Xmas hamper pamper

"An awe-inspiring journey of culinary and sensory delights"

By Joe Havely
CNN

HONG KONG, China (CNN) -- The world economy may be on the verge of crumbling, but Hong Kong still has money to spend on the finer things in life.

At least, that is what one city gourmet supermarket is hoping.

With a Santa-stunning U.S.$16,400 Christmas hamper topping the bill, the Great food store Thursday launched its selection of gourmet gifts for the upcoming festive season.

Named the Imperial, the hamper-from-heaven is crammed with diner's delights designed to create what the store says is, if not the world's most expensive Christmas hamper, then certainly the most exclusive.

Indeed, in times of economic uncertainty, the supermarket was keen to play down the somewhat ostentatious cost and play up that often-elusive concept of exclusivity.

Perhaps though, not as exclusive as you might think -- eight of these mouthwatering marvels have been put together, packed up in a wooden traveling trunk wrapped in handmade 'crocoprint' leather.

Those fortunate enough to open it up on Christmas day, the store's publicity says, "will unlock the door to an awe inspiring journey of culinary and sensory delights."

Screaming Eagle

Screaming Eagle: "The best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world".... and yours for only $3,800

So, enough of the hype -- what do you get for your money?

Perhaps the single most expensive and rarest item is an anonymous-looking bottle of red wine from California, sporting a small but elegant black label.

Those in the know will be familiar with the Screaming Eagle vineyard.

For the rest of us -- Screaming Eagle produces what Great's wine guru says is the best Cabernet Sauvignon in the world.

High praise indeed.

And you would hope so too -- clocking up a cool U.S.$3,846 at the checkout for a bottle of the 1996 vintage.

At least, that's if you could buy it at the supermarket.

Which you can't.

That's how exclusive the hamper is.

'Little baby'

The brass handmade coffee machine... "to fit your airplane or boat"

In fact, says Great manager Nick Reitmeier, you can't buy it anywhere in Hong Kong.

Putting the hamper together, he says, involved scouring the world for suppliers, dozens of late night phone calls to the other side of the world, and several last-minute overseas trips.

The result he now affectionately refers to as "my little baby".

Among other tipples inside designed to wet only the most select of whistles is a bottle of 1959 Dom Perignon and a 1928 cognac, retailing (where you can find such things) at a smidgen above U.S.$2,500.

On top of that there's coffee from St Helena, supposedly once produced especially for Napolean during his exile on the small Atlantic island.

To make the perfect cup the hamper comes complete with a handmade brass espresso machine ready, says Reitmeier without a hint of irony, "to fit on your airplane or boat".

If tea is more your bag then there's 30 grams of Ming Cha Mao Tze Dong Tea, once reserved only for the pot of the Great Chairman himself.

Less than 3 kilos of the tea is produced annually with a 30-gram bag selling at a steamy U.S.$480 a pop.

'Best of the best'

Tea for a lot: Once reserved only for emperors and Communist chairmen

So who exactly is going to shell out the cash for an Imperial hamper?

"If you have this kind of money you want the best of the best of everything," says Reitmeier.

"This is the ultimate in food that you can buy on the planet."

In a city rumored to have more Ferraris per head of the population than anywhere else in the world, Reitmeier says he has no worries about shifting all eight Imperial hampers by Christmas.

Shoppers browsing the aisles seemed less sure.

"That's far too much money for a hamper," said one shopper as she decided between Rice Crispies or Corn Flakes.

"Even if I was able to afford it, I don't know whether I'd dare eat any of the food," said her friend.

Then again, perhaps the kind of person who would splash out U.S.$16,000 on a Christmas hamper is not the kind you would find browsing the aisles on a sunny Thursday afternoon in November.

An ideal day for polishing that Ferrari perhaps? Or maybe the Rolls needs some attention?