On your latest trip to your local steak house, you might have noticed an expensive type of meat on the menu call Wagyu. With such a high price point, Wagyu has to be something pretty delicious, right? Well, many people seem to think so, and there is certainly a lot of fuss around this kind of beef steak. But before you empty out your wallet on a piece of meat, you probably want to know a bit more about Wagyu. Here are the facts.

Where it comes from.

Wagyu beef originates from Japan so you might see something like "Japan Wagyu Steak" on the menu. Wagyu cows have, however, been farmed in Australia since 1993. If you are concerned about the environmental impact of importing meat from abroad, seek out a steakhouse that uses beef from local Wagyu cattle.

It melts in the mouth.

If you choose a decent piece of Wagyu steak, you'll instantly notice how it melts like butter in the mouth. This is because of the high monounsaturated fat content, which is marbled right throughout the beef. Steaks with more fat are more tender and impart more flavour. But because this fat is monounsaturated, it has a lower melting point, and creates a delicious softness unlike any other steak out there.

It has high Omega 3 fatty acids content.

When you need to top up your Omega 3 fatty acids, you would normally be recommended to reach for oily fish, such as mackerel or sardines. But if you aren't such a seafood lover, you'll also be pleased to learn that you can get a decent amount of this vital nutrient from a good slab of Wagyu beef. The health benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids are numerous: they can reduce the chances of heart disease, reduce depressive symptoms, and even give you glowing skin.  

Why they are deliciously fatty.

Wagyu beef cattle really get looked after. They are fed with a rich diet and for much longer than ordinary cattle. This is what gives the delicious fatty marbling within a Wagyu beef steak, and the resource intensiveness of Wagyu farming is also why you'll be paying a premium for your meat. If you luck out and find a surprisingly cheap Wagyu on the menu of a steak house, ask questions about the cut and the grade because you generally pay for what you get.

Enjoy your delicious Wagyu steak!