Tohoku gourmet

When you think of yakiniku, you think of mutton, right?! Exploring the mutton food culture of Tadami Town [Tadami Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture]

Yakiniku is delicious any time of the year. What kind of meat do you like?

Beef, pork, chicken, mutton...huh, mutton? In fact, there is a region in Fukushima Prefecture where yakiniku mutton. Mutton with a deep richness and unique flavor is served with a fragrant sauce...Once you get hooked , you'll be hooked. We explored the appeal of mutton from Tadami Town.

What is Mutton? Explaining the Difference Between It and Lamb

sheep

First, some of you may be confused by the word mutton

Mutton is sheep meat. Most of the sheep meat you see in supermarkets and butcher shops is lamb. The difference between mutton and lamb is the age of the sheep.

  • Lamb : Meat from a lamb less than one year old
  • Mutton : Meat from an adult sheep over two years old

So lamb is the meat of a young sheep, and mutton is the meat of a mature sheep. Meat from a sheep that is more than one year old but less than two years old is called hogget

Sheep Age

Generally, lamb is characterized by its tenderness and little odor, while mutton is characterized by its firm texture and rich, savory flavor. Mutton has a stronger reddish color.

Many people dislike lamb because of its strong odor. This unique odor is apparently caused by a smelly substance called "feetol" that accumulates in the lamb's fat when the sheep breaks down the plants it eats. This is why lamb that is young and has less feetol accumulated in its fat has a less peculiar flavor.

On the other hand, have you ever heard the rumor that "eating lamb won't make you fat"? This rumor originates from the recent attention that has been paid to the nutrient "L-carnitine" contained in lamb. L-carnitine is expected to have effects of relieving fatigue and promoting fat burning. Lamb has a high L-carnitine content, and mutton in particular seems to contain more L-carnitine than lamb.

As you can see, lamb and mutton each have their own merits, so it's best to choose based on your preference.

What is Tadami Town, a mutton-loving region?

Mutton

Tadami Town in Minamiaizu County, Fukushima Prefecture, is famous for being one of the areas with the heaviest snowfall, and has a culture of eating mutton. When it comes to yakiniku, mutton is the first thing that comes to mind. Mutton is more popular than lamb. Why has this mutton culture developed?

According to one theory, the origins of this tradition date back to the Showa era, when mutton farming was popular. At the time, the food culture of Tadami Town was centered on vegetarianism, and people disliked mutton due to its strong odor. A veterinarian, concerned about the nutritional imbalance of local residents, was inspired by the Jingisukan he had eaten outside of town, and encouraged people to consume mutton at home. Furthermore, a townsperson who was passionate about promoting mutton farming tried various methods of butchering and cooking to reduce the strong odor, and opened a butcher shop. It is said that this effort led to the custom of eating mutton taking root in the town.

The mutton sold was seasoned meat that had been thoroughly rubbed with a special sauce. As word of its deliciousness spread, each household gradually began to make their own original sauce, and mutton became a part of everyday eating. At the time, Genghis Khan pots were expensive, and there are stories of residents who did not have the cooking equipment to use an upside-down shovel or corrugated iron to grill the meat. People who had previously not been fond of mutton began to eat it willingly because it was delicious. The change in the local food culture was remarkable. It was a movement that was brought about solely by the passion of our ancestors, who continued to innovate with the future of the region in mind, wanting people to actively eat this precious source of protein.

As time passed, the number of livestock farmers raising Burmese sheep in the area decreased, but mutton continued to be eaten in the area. Even though butchers' lineups have been replaced with imported meat, mutton remains the go-to meat for grilling. It seems that the culture of eating mutton remains strong in Tadami Town and surrounding areas.

There are also mutton specialties

Located in a stylish shop in front of Tadami Station, " Ajitsuki Mutton Kebab Cafe " serves mutton kebabs, just as the name suggests. The well-seasoned mutton is sandwiched in pita bread with cabbage. The convenience of being able to enjoy Tadami Town's soul food with one hand is what makes it so appealing.

They also sell their products at events, mainly in the local area. If you're interested, be sure to check out the store information.

Information

  • Name: Seasoned Mutton Kebab Cafe
  • Address: Tadami Line Square, 1018-1 Amedsutsumi, Tadami-machi, Minamiaizu-gun, Fukushima Prefecture, 968-0421
  • Phone number: 090-6682-0141
  • URL: Instagram
  • Business hours: 9:00-16:00
  • Regular holidays: Irregular holidays

Google Map

A Close-up on Tadami Town's Mutton Food Culture

This time we talked about the mutton eating culture of Tadami Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture.

Mutton is a type of lamb that has a different deliciousness to lamb. Behind the spread of mutton eating culture in the mountainous, snowy region of Tadami Town lies a kind heart that wishes for the health of the local residents. In spreading the culture of eating mutton, which had not previously been accepted in the area, trial and error was essential to make it delicious to eat. The journey of our predecessors is a noble one.

If you visit the Minamiaizu area, why not try some mutton from Tadami Town?

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