Wagyu

Wagyu beef from the Woodview Wagyu farm in the Free State was judged the winner of the "Ultimate Beef Challenge" for the second year in a row.

WHY IT'S A WINNER

Steve Maresch of Joburg's Local Grill started the competition to establish which breed of cattle produces SA's best beef. All breeds enter a sirloin steak, which is carefully prepared by a team from the Local Grill for a blind tasting by the public and a panel of judges. Woodview Wagyu beef won every category and has set the benchmark.

WHERE IT'S FROM

Wagyu cattle have been bred in Japan for hundreds of years and have been declared a national treasure. In fact, for many years only the emperor, his family and his samurai could eat Wagyu beef. There are many stories about these imperial cattle being massaged, fed beer and then sold at astronomical prices. The Japanese have devoted extraordinary care and attention to rearing their breed of cattle, focusing on the quality rather than the quantity of the beef.

WHAT MAKES IT GREAT

Japanese Wagyu meat, also known as "Kobe beef", has taken the world by storm. Experts and gourmet chefs who have discovered Wagyu beef consider it to be the most tender and tasty meat in the world. This comes from the Wagyu's unique ability to lay down marbling (the fine web-like fat that is found inside the muscle). When cooked, this marbling dissolves and gives the beef its melt-in-the-mouth taste and tenderness. The marbling has been found to contain high concentrations of omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids, which have been shown to have many health benefits.

Brian Angus, a third-generation beef farmer, imported the first Wagyu genetics into SA in 1998. Since then the Woodview Wagyu herd has grown to 300 females and the family markets their Wagyu beef to selected restaurants and stores under their Woodview brand. All Woodview beef can be traced back to the farm where the animals are fed a special Japanese diet containing corn produced on the farm. "Our aim is to produce a world-class product in the safest humane way possible, without using any additives or antibiotics," says Angus.

• Woodview Wagyu beef is available in Johannesburg at Country Meat Butchery in Fourways and Pick n Pay on Nicol in Hurlingham. In the Western Cape, Woodview Wagyu is distributed by Blakes Fine Foods, 071 643 3631. For Door to Door delivery, contact 082 975 7020.