Did you know that Wagyu comes from various countries around the world? The 3 countries which produce Wagyu are Japan, Australia, and the United States. Japan produces the highest number of Wagyu cattle followed by Australia and lastly the United States. There are also differences between Wagyu obtained from these countries, which make it unique. Let's get into the specialties and differences of Wagyu from each of these countries!
Japanese Wagyu
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The majority of Wagyu originates from Japan, making it the leader for Wagyu breeding, and 96% of full-blood Wagyu is found in Japan. Japanese Black, Japanese Brown, Japanese Shorthorn, and Japanese Polled are the four types of Wagyu breeds in Japan. However, Japanese Black makes up over 90% of the cattle in Japan. They are also classified by region for example Kobe beef, Omi beef, Matsusaka beef, and more. Kobe is known as the most popular region to raise Wagyu. All Japanese Wagyu cattle each have a certificate to trace back their lineage
An important must-know about Japanese Wagyu is that it is strictly graded by the Japanese Meat Grading Association based on yield and grade. Yield is the amount of meat produced while grade refers to the meat quality based on 4 factors. Yield is represented by alphabets A, B, C with A being the highest yield. The grade is represented by numbers 1-5 with 5 being the highest quality. Therefore, A5 is the highest quality of Wagyu beef you can get.
Now moving on, to what makes Japanese Wagyu so sought-after! The first element would have to be the phenomenal melt-in-your-mouth texture that will definitely blow your mind. This is due to the incredible fat marbling. Other than that, Japanese Wagyu also has a sweet umami flavour that makes it unique from other types of Wagyu. Popular Japanese Wagyu dishes include Shabu-Shabu, Sukiyaki, Yakiniku (grilled meat), and many more varieties. That’s why Japanese Wagyu is known as the Rolls-Royce of beef!
Learn more about Japanese Wagyu in Top 10 Interesting Facts We Bet You Didn’t Know About Japanese Wagyu.
Australian Wagyu
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Australian Wagyu cattle do originate from the Japanese Wagyu bloodline however the cattle are raised, bred, and processed in Australia. Over 95% of Australian Wagyu cows are crossbred with other cattle breeds. Australian Wagyu is also smaller as they are only fed for 350-450 days as compared to Japanese Wagyu which are fed for approximately 600 days.
AUS-MEAT and Meat Standards Australia are the two systems used to determine the quality of the meat. The marble scores range from 0-9 while most Australian Wagyu receive a score of 6. The Australian Wagyu beef has intense fat marbling as well but it does not reach the level of marbling of Japanese Wagyu. The different climates and feeding techniques play a part in the size and tenderness of the meat as well, making Australian Wagyu slightly less tender than Japanese Wagyu. The taste also differs but nevertheless, Australian Wagyu is still pretty spectacular!
Australian Wagyu has its own unique features too. Although the flavour is less buttery, the meat is slightly leaner and has a meatier taste. It is also usually found pan-seared and grilled. The meat is also best-served medium rare as it is the best way to enjoy Australian Wagyu.
American Wagyu
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American Wagyu is typically produced by crossbreeding cattle, usually with full-blood Wagyu cattle and Angus cattle. American Wagyu cows are fed for around 400+ days which is a similar period to the Australian Wagyu cattle. Farmers also intend to feed the cattle a vegetarian diet which is different from how the domestic beef cattle are fed.
American Wagyu is graded based on the USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) scale. There are 3 grades which are Prime Grade (abundant marbling), Choice Grade (small to moderate marbling), and Select Grade (slight marbling). The grading system is not nearly as strict as the Japanese grading system.
The fat content is also less in American Wagyu due to less marbling. The taste is heartier and beefier in flavour. American Wagyu is commonly known for being grilled, roasted, or pan-seared similar to Australian Wagyu. It is also an element in many American favourites such as burgers, BBQ, and many others!
Where you can find Wagyu deals in Klang Valley
After reading all about Wagyu from different parts of the world, you’ll surely want to try it! Here's some great news, the Japanese Wagyu Feast 2021 is currently happening on FunNow! Find worthy deals and special packages here from now till 15th Jan 2022 only! You can also apply promo code EATWAGYU to get an additional 20% Off on total bill for any Japanese Wagyu Feast selections!