What Makes Wagyu Beef So Desirable?

Wagyu beef is one of the highest-quality types of beef in the world, and many people consider it to be a delicacy. If you’ve never had Wagyu beef or you’re not familiar with it, you might be wondering what all the hype is about. If you’re curious about what makes wagyu beef so desirable, keep reading to learn what’s so special about this type of meat.

What Is Wagyu Beef?

Wagyu is a special breed of cattle that originated in Japan. In fact, Wagyu translates to “Japanese cow.” There are four breeds of Wagyu cattle that are known for producing this high-quality beef, which has a much higher fat content than your typical cut of beef.

While Wagyu beef is strongly associated with Japanese cattle, we also have an American equivalent here in the States. American Wagyu beef comes from a cross between Japanese cattle and American cattle, and it marries some of the best qualities of both.

What Makes Wagyu Beef Special?

Now that you have the basic definition of Wagyu beef, you might be wondering what makes it so special. As we briefly mentioned, Wagyu beef has a superior fat content and distribution compared to most other cuts of beef. Additionally, the fact that Wagyu beef comes from Japanese cattle also means that it has higher standards over some other types of beef.

Fat Marbling

The special fat distribution that Wagyu beef is known for is called “marbling.” The fat appears in a marbled texture throughout the beef, meaning it’s distributed more evenly than in other types of beef. This naturally gives Wagyu a tender, melt-in-your-mouth texture.

High Standards Equal More Desirable Meat

Wagyu cattle have a specific standard of living in Japan. This type of cattle is raised in a stress-free environment, allowed to graze, and given plenty of room to roam and live. This helps them grow to produce fattier, more tender meat than cattle raised in harsher environments.

The short answer to the question, “What makes wagyu beef so desirable?” is that this meat is raised differently to taste better. This also explains why Wagyu beef is so high quality.

Hopefully, this dive into the wonderful world of Wagyu beef has helped you understand a bit more about this type of meat. Vincent’s Meat Market carries a wide variety of classic, high-quality cuts of meat at our butcher shop in NYC. We also make it easy for our customers to order meat online, with a wide selection and delivery right to their doors.