What Is the Taste of Whale? Is Whale Meat Delicious?

The whale is the most well-known picture of the world’s biggest animal. Its mere physical enormity is enough to send shivers down your spine.

But,

Whales, it turns out, aren’t only popular because of their massive physical size. In fact, in several culinary traditions throughout the globe, it is considered a delicacy.

Whale flesh is revered in Japan, and it is one of their (secret) culinary treasures.

While they are not as widely accessible as other traditional staple meats, they are likely to appear on a menu if you visit to Japan, Iceland, or perhaps Norway.

If you had the means, you could even attempt preparing one.

So, how does whale flesh taste? And how should it be prepared?

What exactly is whale meat?

Whale meat is a large category of meat that mostly comprises the cetacean family. Dolphins, porpoises, and whales are all members of this family of edible whales.

Apart from that, whale flesh is a catch-all phrase for any vital (meaty) element of the fish, such as organ meat, muscle, or lipids.

Whale flesh is used for a variety of reasons in numerous culinary cultures throughout the world. In Japan, for example, whale flesh eating is an old ritual and a rare delicacy.

Yet, owing to restricted meat supply in other locations, such as Iceland and Norway, whale meat is more of a required choice.

What Is the Taste of Whale? Is Whale Meat Delicious?

Since whale flesh is considered a delicacy in many cultures and is forbidden in others, not many individuals can claim to have eaten it.

Despite this, a small number of individuals who have had whale flesh report it as tasting comparable to moose or reindeer meat. Apart from that, it is recognized for having a particularly chewy consistency.

Since whales are mammals, their true flavor is more akin to other basic meats like beef than to their other aquatic counterparts like swordfish.

It is important to note that just a few whale species are both optimal and safe for ingestion. The Minke whale is the most popular species of whale in Japan.

Whale meat is nutritionally equivalent to shark meat owing to its high fat content. The nutritional qualities of minke whale, in particular, set it apart from other fish foods.

How Do You Prepare Whale Meat?

Whale flesh is considered differently in different parts of the globe.

Yet, the most thorough way of preparing whale flesh is found in Japanese culture. From before 800 AD, the flesh has been used in Japanese cuisine.

Whale flesh is often divided into two parts: tail meat and belly meat. Tail meat, also known as unesu, is often made as white bacon. On the other hand, tail meat, also known as onomi, is often consumed as tataki or sashimi.

In Norway, whale flesh is cooked in a pot to make an unique broth and eaten with vegetables, potatoes, and flatbrod (traditional bread).

Apart from the usual cooking methods mentioned above, there are several unique whale meat dishes that you may attempt yourself.

Additionally, before embarking on a whale-cooking effort, bear the poisonous nature of the animal in mind. Whales, like other carnivorous marine creatures, have significant levels of mercury, which is toxic to humans.

It is also not advisable to consume raw whale flesh, at least if it has not been processed by a professional.

Conclusion

Whale meat is unquestionably one of the most unique foods available.

It provides a lot of nutritional advantages, which are quite significant in Japanese culture.

If you’re tired of cooking the same old tuna or salmon, whale meat is something you should certainly look into, if it’s accessible in your area. If you’re sick of eating,