For a great meat dish, it’s essential to use a great piece of meat. But what piece of meat is superior to others? There are many opinions, but often two types are mentioned: Wagyu meat and Kobe meat. You can rarely find these two types at a regular butcher shop, and they’re not even a common choice in restaurants.
Do you wonder what is the difference between Wagyu and Kobe beef? Now is the perfect time to learn it if you don’t know. We’ll make a comparison, Wagyu vs. Kobe. We’ll even let you in on an exclusive insight, where you can try first-class wagyu meat, but first, let’s talk about the basics.
To answer the question of what is Wagyu beef, we need to go back in time. In 1910 Japan ended the importation of cattle before the cease imported from mainland China. The cattle that were imported from China originated from Europe. Once the Japanese ended importing foreign cattle, they started cross-breeding their species with those imported initially. That cross-breeding resulted in four breeds known to the world as improved Japanese Cattle. The names of those breeds are Japanese Black, Polled, Shorthorn, and Brown, and these are the breeds from which Wagyu meat comes.
Now that you know what is Wagyu beef, you’ll want to know what is Kobe beef. Practically, Kobe beef is Wagyu Beef. It may sound a bit confusing, but we’ll explain it to you.
Kobe beef is Wagyu beef, but it needs to be from Hyogo Prefecture in the Kansai region to be considered Kobe beef.
Kobe meat is unique in many ways, and it has to meet rigorous standards to be considered Kobe beef. It’s vital where the cattle were raised and fed. And even if the cattle were raised in the perfect conditions and fed with perfect food, the meat can’t be Kobe meat if it isn’t harvested from a castrated bull or a cow that hasn’t given birth.
And now you know what is the difference between Wagyu and Kobe beef.
Outside of Japan, their beef is called Wagyu beef, and in Japan, only the highest quality meat can be called Wagyu meat.
And what makes this meat so incredible? Many factors are essential to mention. Very strict regulative makes this meat outstanding. There are rigid rules on how the cattle are bred and braised and how the meat is harvested. That also results in a minimal number of cattle that passes the inspection, becoming Wagyu beef in Japan. Another important notice is that it is forbidden to export cattle to other countries in Japan, and the number of Wagyu meat harvested every year is low.
All of the mentioned above leads to outstanding quality and something that’s the most expensive beef around the globe.
And of course, we must note the taste, because it’s superior to any other cut of meat that you have tried in your life. This most expensive beef in the world is tender, delicious, fatty enough, and melts in your mouth. True meat lovers dream about trying wagyu beef.
We explained what is Kobe beef, and you know that it’s a type of Wagyu beef. So, when it comes to comparing regular Wagyu and Kobe beef, the conclusion is simple, Kobe beef is superior to regular Wagyu beef.
Kobe meat is unique, wonderful, and it’s the ultimate cut of meat that you can taste in your life. It’s bright, finely marbled with good fat, and it will melt in your mouth immediately as you bite into it.
We are lucky because Kobe beef is the type of Wagyu meat that is mainly exported to the United States.
And finally, when it comes to taste, and what’s better, we’ll leave that up to you. Every person has their preferences, and even some people don’t like this type of beef. So, to honestly say which is better, you need to try it when it comes to Wagyu vs. Kobe.
If you ever wondered who would have won in a Wagyu beef vs. Kobe beef comparison, this is the answer.
You should be aware that stores can label beef as Kobe-style, but it doesn’t mean it’s the real deal. The reason for that is easy; here in the US, we don’t have any regulative considering trademarking for Kobe beef. You should be very careful when buying the meat for yourself because you can end up paying for the most expensive one in the world, and that it is not even the real thing.
If you have an opportunity to buy this kind of beef, you should inspect it wisely. Look at the shape; it should be rectangular or square. It shouldn’t have bone and fat surrounding it. The only fat that wagyu meat needs is the finely marbled one all over the steak. And finally, the color of the authentic steak should be bright pink, not red.
If you don’t want to be bothered with this, you can always go to a good restaurant where you’ll be served with a proper Wagyu steak, prepared adequately.
Many people don’t know the difference between Wagyu beef and Kobe beef but will dare to say that this beef is not healthy. And if you hear something like that, you should know that it isn’t true.
First of all, all of the excess fat from a Wagyu steak is cut off, and the only fat the steak has it’s the fine marbled one. Even if it seems like the steak is full of fat, there’s less fat at first sight than in a regular steak that’s usually eaten in the US. This kind of meat has only around 25% fat, and it’s primarily monounsaturated fat. And that type of fat is known as good fat because it helps reduce bad cholesterol.
If you want to eat a steak, and you want it to be healthy, you should eat a Wagyu one.
Steaks are delicious, and no one can dispute that. They are a particular part of American cuisine and our tradition. Our stakes can be high-quality, juicy, and tender. And then there are the Japanese steaks we’ve been talking about here. These steaks are unique in flavor, taste, and how they look. They will make you feel like you are in beef heaven. And while both American and Japanese-style steaks can be incredible, you should try the Japanese one if you have an opportunity.
We’ve mentioned that we will give you an exclusive insight into where to try this kind of meat. If you have never tried it, the experience will be incredible. You will appreciate the moment and cherish it for a long time afterward. So, if you are interested in making a show for your palate, we invite you to call us and book a reservation at Stubborn Seed for an incredible experience that you won’t regret.
