If you’ve passed Beef 101, chances are you’re already familiar with Japan’s high-grade Wagyu beef, a highly prized viand valued for its unctuous, fatty flavor and a level of marbling that rivals an Aman resort.
But what if we told you that even among the world’s most covetable beef, there exists yet another level of decadence? It’s called Sanuki, or “Olive Beef,” and thanks to steak marketplace Crowd Cow, it’s becoming available in the U.S. for the first time.
Bred on a single island in Kawaga Prefecture in Southern Japan, Sanuki cattle are fed a diet of olives that have been toasted and dried from Shodo Island, which, as reported by Eater, was the first Japanese island to produce olives at the turn of the century. The resulting beef is said to be an umami-packed sensory overload.
Unsurprisingly, the first delivery of Olive Wagyu, released last week, sold out with a quickness. But do not fret, fellow beef lovers. It appears Crowd Cow will be unleashing another shipment later this summer. Be sure to sign up for updates here.
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