What does whale meat taste like?
It depends on the species and the cut of meat. Whale meat is also usually deep frozen for several months or even years before it enters the market, so tasting fresh whale meat is probably quite rare. Lean whale meat is probably best described as tasting most like horse, which for those who have not tasted it is like a dense and sweet beef. The serving of whale meat under Japanese quisine is varied. Served as sashimi (thin slices of raw meat) it comes with a powerful wasabe sauce made out of horseradish, which reminds the western pallete of traditional beef dinners. When I tasted whale meat, I was unaware of what it was (I assumed it was beef) – it was not an aquired taste and was very pleasant – and like most Japanese quisine, gave the impression that it was very good for you. Because of the ethical and conservation issues surrounding its consumption, however, I would not recommend it.
