Japanese Wagyu wins World’s Best Steak on first entry at 2022 World Steak Challenge

A Japanese Wagyu sirloin has taken the top prize at the 2022 World Steak Challenge in Dublin, with judges praising the “melt in the mouth” steak.

Japanese producer Starzen Co. entered the competition for the first time with its “Akune Gold,” which came from an A4 grade, 30-month-old female beef animal that was raised in the Kagoshima region.

Besides being named the Best Steak in the World, the meat was also crowned World’s Best Sirloin and World’s Best Grain-Fed at the awards ceremony on Wednesday.

“We are thrilled to have a new winner for this year’s World Steak Challenge,” World Steak Challenge representative Ed Bennington said in a statement. “It is very exciting to have our first Japanese entry and consequently the winner of World’s Best Steak. The vast number of entries from across the globe truly showcases the quality of steak on an international scale.”

Other top prizes were awarded to Australia’s Jack’s Creek for World’s Best Ribeye, Poland’s MFC Carni for World’s Best Fillet, and Northern Ireland’s Linden Foods for World’s Best Grass-Fed Steak.

The eighth annual competition, hosted by the Irish state-run food board Bord Bia, received more entries than usual this year from top steak producers and suppliers from around the world.

Ireland took home the most medals with a total of 54, followed by England with 36 and Finland with 28.

“We export 90% of our beef to over 50 markets around the world, even as far as Japan and the USA, so it is very important to get our origin known and be recognised on the basis of quality and taste,” Bord Bia beef sector manager Mark Zieg said. “In an environment like the World Steak Challenge with top producers, chefs and judges we feel it is the ideal opportunity to share our values in producing top quality beef.”

Featured Image via World Steak Challenge

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