What is Japanese Olive Wagyu and what makes it the world’s rarest?
Olive Wagyu brings together a 1300-year-old cattle tradition and the Kagawa, Japan’s olive oil industry. In 2006, farmer Masaki Ishii wanted to repurpose the by product of olive oil production as feed for his cows, tapping into the Japanese philosophy of “Mottainai” which conveys a sense of regret over waste. Masaki’s first attempt to feed the raw olive pulp to the cattle was unsuccessful (Japan Go, 2022). It took about three years to figure out that a roasted and caramelized mash was the palatable formula to be added to the cattle feed as supplement. This resulted to nutritionally superior cows that produce exceptionally marbled steak and umami flavor!
In 2017, the Olive Wagyu was awarded the Best Fat Quality against 182 other competitors in the Wagyu Olympics, which is held every five years. Currently, there are 2,200 Olive Wagyu cows globally. The farmers based in coastal Kagawa only slaughter a few animals every month and export a smaller number — making this a very rare delicacy (Crowd Cow, 2022).
Preparation & Wine Pairing:
Olive Wagyu is already so buttery and filled with flavor, that its preparation needs no frills! Just salt for seasoning, and no oil needed. A simple pan sear is all that is required. It’s not advisable to grill as it might result in dangerous flare-ups and a pool of melted fat.
Season it at least an hour before cooking. Keep it refrigerated until the moment it hits the pan. Leaving it out at room temperature will soften the fat too much and will give you a puddle of melted fat when you cook it. For best results, cook at medium to medium-high heat. Keep its doneness rare to medium rare.
Pair it with Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Merlot to elegantly balance the sophisticated flavor of the beef.
References:
Crowd Cow. (2022). Olive wagu a brief history. [video]. YouTube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auGKUMdBmb8
Japan Go. (2022). Japan's rarest beef olive wagyu. [Video]. YouTube. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7eMjYXRcm-0