Matsusaka beef
Matsusaka beef (松阪牛, Matsusaka-ushi, Matsusaka-gyū also "Matsuzaka beef") is the meat of
History
Before the 19th century, beef was not typically a part of the average Japanese diet.[2] Farmers in the Mie Prefecture would raise smaller and more muscular, female cows to do agricultural work.[2] When westerners introduced them to eating beef, farmers began to raise the cows to have traits that were more favorable for human consumption.[2] The "National Beef Exposition" awarded Matsusaka with the medal of high honor in 1938.[2] The award helped make Matsusaka more well known.[2] The beef became famous for its marbling, rich flavor, and tenderness.[3]
Original standards
The cows take roughly three years to mature.[2] In order for the meat to be sold under the Matsusaka name, it must meet strict standards.[2] Only virgin female cows can be sold as Matsusaka beef and all calves must be of a breed registered by the Matsusaka Beef Management System.[2] Most of the meat is sold through stores owned by the Matsusaka Beef Cattle Association.[4] To prevent cheap meat from being sold under the Matsusaka name, all authentic stores have an "Association Member's Certificate". The Mie Prefecture Matsusaka Shokuniku Kosha public corporation implemented a system for tracking the cows to ensure authenticity. All cattle are given a 10-digit ID.[4] The date of birth, location of birth, date it was slaughtered, shipping information, and the bloodline of each cow can be found by entering the ID on a website.[4]
Cooking
While Matsusaka beef can be eaten as a steak, there are more traditional methods of cooking the meat. Shabu-shabu is prepared with very thin slices of meat which are quickly dipped in a kelp broth and then eaten. Sukiyaki is a method that involves simmering thin slices of meat in a pot with a sauce of sugar, sake and soy sauce. After the meat has been cooked, it is removed from the pot, dipped in a raw egg and eaten.[5] The melting in one's mouth sensation comes from the unsaturated fatty acids in the beef.[4]
References
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 16 June 2008.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Matsusaka Beef. JapanBrand. Japan National Tourism Organization.Accessed January 2018.
- ^ "Matsusaka Beef". JapanTravel. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ^ a b c d Photos: Satoru Naito (June 2016). "[editorial] Matsusaka Beef, the Ultimate Wagyu: a Visually-Arresting and Delicious Work of Art". Japan Quality Review. Archived from the original on 2 August 2016.
- ^ Goode, Brandi (7 October 2014). "Ultimate Japan Wagyu beef guide". CNN. Retrieved 3 February 2017.