Public outrage over the price of blueberries this month got us wondering what other pricey items lurk in our supermarkets. We visited three Wellington supermarkets to find the most expensive items on the shelves.

What we got was a snapshot of prices and stock availability on a specific day (Wednesday, November 11). It's worth remembering that supermarket pricing and stocking can change day-by-day and frequently differs between stores.

Saffron threads

BRITTANY MANN At times in the recent past, saffron has been more expensive than gold, ounce for ounce.

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $181.80 per 10g

Countdown Newtown: $209.90 per 10g

New World Wellington City: $179.80 per 10g.

Saffron threads are the stamens of the crocus flower, and the spice's exorbitant cost is due to the gruelling process required to harvest them. Each stigma is hand-plucked by blind monks on a remote mountaintop, accessible only by yak at the full moon. I made up the last bit, but this is true: it takes two football fields' worth of crocuses – charming purple flowers popular with grandparents – to produce just a kilo of saffron.

Luckily, saffron's primary culinary value seems to lie in its ability to win contestants kudos on reality cooking shows. I personally cannot fathom spending money on a spice which Wikipedia describes as imparting "a hay-like fragrance" but for those who disagree, give these recipes a whirl.

* Swedish saffron cake

* Lemon & saffron sago pudding

* Saffron poached chicken

* Saffron potato & smoked roe mash with flatbread

* Saffron honey potato bread

Pinenuts

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $9.89 per 100g

Countdown Newtown: $8.80 per 100g

New World Wellington City: $9.99 per 100g

Pinenuts are actually the seeds nestled between the scales of a pine cone, and are similarly labour intensive to harvest. Pinenut lovers on a budget can find solace in cheaper alternatives – swap them for cashews or almonds in pestos, or roasted sunflower seeds scattered through salads.

Blueberries

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: -

Countdown Newtown: $8.99 per 125g punnet

New World Wellington City: $9.99 per 125g punnet

News of the Queenstown Raeward Fresh hawking blueberries for $20 a punnet caused national outrage this month. The inky morsels are one of few easy-to-snack-on foods that are both good for you and feel like a treat, not to mention a rite of summery passage.

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie seemed to have skirted accusations of over-pricing fresh berries by failing to stock any – blue or otherwise, with no berries visible during our circuits of the shop. However, you could buy dried blueberries for $5.75 per 100g (the same product at Countdown Newtown cost $7.40 per 100g); and the supermarket has since advised that blueberries were this week selling there for $7.98 a punnet.

For those for whom cost is no barrier (or who are happy to use frozen ones), try the recipes below:

* Blueberry fritters with honeyed sour cream

* Lemon blueberry yoghurt loaf

* Passionfruit honey, lime and blueberry cake

Macadamia nuts

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $6.89 per 100g

Countdown Newtown: $6.89 per 100g

New World Wellington City: $7.69 per 100g

This month, chocolate manufacturer Whittaker's announced it was ceasing production of its macadamia chocolate lines, as the nuts had become too expensive. There was no sign of the fabled flavour left on the shelves but there's still hope – this block's selling for a very reasonable $10 on TradeMe.

But while they can take our chocolate, they will never take our loose nuts. They're available in raw and roasted varieties in the bulk section, and a kilo will cost you as much as a Grabaseat return flight between Wellington and Christchurch.

Lamb

Countdown Newtown: $23.49 per 340g (loin fillet)

New World Wellington City: $22.49 per 340g (loin fillet)

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $49.98 per kg (cutlets)

It is surprising the animals which outnumber New Zealand's human population six to one are so expensive when transformed into barbecue fodder. At around $70 a kg for a loin fillet, the woolly critters are having the last laugh, even in death. Exact your vengeance with these lamb-laden offerings:

* Recipe: Lamb kofta with muhammara

* Red wine lamb pappardelle

* Lamb, tomato & spinach curry

* Panfried lamb fillets with eggplant & artichoke stew

Venison medallions

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $17.37 per 400g

Countdown Newtown: $22.49 per 400g

New World Wellington City: $19.99 per 400g

The noble stag is as majestic on the plate as it is roaming woodland glades, and therefore worth the occasional splurge. The lean, gamey meat is another reality cooking show staple, and you can recreate the on-screen magic with these dinky medallions stocked at every supermarket I visited.

Beef eye fillet steak

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $43 per kg

Countdown Newtown: $46.99 per kg

New World Wellington City: $50.99 per kg (for a premium cut; the supermarket has advised that its "generic fillet" is $46.99).

Venison's cloven-hoofed cousin is slightly more affordable, and, lacking gaminess, more versatile. What with bacon and bangers' precipitous fall from grace, now is the time for steaks.

Fresh dates

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: We couldn't find them on our visit; the supermarket has since advised they're selling for $22.98 per kg.

Countdown Newtown: $30.99 per kg

New World Wellington City: $29.99 per kg

With 63 per cent sugar content, this exotic product is nature's caramel. Dates are increasingly popular with the clean-eating crowd, who often use date puree in place of white sugar. Thankfully the dried version – lacking in gooeyness but not in flavour – is very affordable, meaning you need never forego your cashew, date and ginger hummus or sticky date and coconut pudding for lack of finances.

Limes

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $14.98 per kg

Countdown: -

New World Wellington City: $29.99 per kg

Kilbirnie's mojito enthusiasts will rejoice – at the time of our visit, limes cost half as much at your local Pak'nSave than they did at the New World over yonder. With limes so reasonably priced, you can afford to make all the recipes listed below.

* All-American key lime pie

* Sticky pork skewers with spiced lime dipping sauce

* Lime & coconut louise cake

* Fragrant lime & fish soup

Salmon

Pak'nSave Kilbirnie: $24.89 per kg

Countdown Newtown: $26 per kg

New World Wellington City: the salmon we saw on display was $41.99 per kg but the supermarket says this was for a skinless, boneless product, and that a bone-in, skin-on version is $32.99 per kg.

The pink-fleshed fish is a favourite for summery spreads. It's also arguably more healthful – and generally cheaper – than other animals on this list.

Greatest price discrepancy: Salmon, limes

Biggest waste of money: Saffron (in my humble opinion)