If you are Irish and love to cook your native dishes at home, then this question might be important for you. If you buy from the local markets there won’t be any tags specifying which area the meat belongs to. But if you go to a decent store to shop for the delicious delicacies then you might find where the meat is from on the packaging.
Where does the meat in Ireland come from?
If you are a diehard fan of beef then it might surprise you that the beef you eat might not be Irish. Ireland imports beef mostly from Great Britain. Other countries it imports its beef from are the Netherlands, Germany, and Poland. However, the meat imported does further processing in the Irish factories and then is labeled as Craft Butcher.
The same goes for the sheepmeat. However, the exporters may vary for that. For sheepmeat, Great Britain remains the largest exporter. However, New Zealand becomes the second largest exporter and France also contributes majorly to the sheepmeat industry in Ireland by exporting sheep. Irish meat is not so Irish in the real sense, though it has a flourishing meat industry.
Well, if you prefer the authentic and want pure Irish meat on the platter you can go ahead and check the Craft Butcher logo on the packaging. Plus, by the Just Ask campaign, you can go on and ask where the meat on your platter came from at any restaurant. So you can always be sure of what you are eating.
Meat Industry of Ireland
It is no doubt the most important industry contributing to the national economy. Not only does it provide employment to thousands of Irish farmers and citizens but it has made Ireland the fifth largest exporter of beef all over the world. Ireland basically expands its meat industry to sheepmeat, beef, and pigmeat. Not only beef but sheepmeat and pigmeat industries have also shown a spurt in recent years making Ireland the fourth largest exporter of sheepmeat all over the world. Plus, the sheepmeat produced is also supplied to 30 markets in Ireland. The growth of the Irish meat industry has increased Ireland’s presence in the international market considerably.
Cuisines Of Ireland
Irish cuisine revolves around meat undoubtedly and that is the reason for the large demand this country has to offer the same. Whether it’s the traditional Irish corned beef or the nasty twist Reuben bowls, all require a great deal of meat. Apart from the basic necessity that is meat, these Irish dishes also feature a great deal of potatoes and cabbage. Plus, Shepard pie which has the goodness of meat-filled in there definitely has a lot to offer on the Irish platter. Well, if you are looking for some baked stuff you should go for the traditional Irish Stew Pie which is a baked version of the Irish Stew and has a lot to offer than the basic dish.
Nothing does justice to pigmeat than the Irish slow-cooked Corn Beef. If you didn’t have this in Ireland you surely missed a lot. Other Irish dishes include Irish Bread, Red Roasted Potatoes, Irish cream, Spiced beef, and whatnot. The list goes on.
Conclusion:
The Irish cuisine surely values a lot of meat in it. No doubt it has a flourishing meat industry. But not all the meat you find in the market comes from the meat industry itself. There are many other contributors too to Irish meat. But some of you would want the fresh meat on the platter, not the one which has traveled a lot to reach the final destination. For those, you can go ahead and check the Craft Butcher logo on the packaging and make sure it’s purely Irish.
Q. What is the Just Ask Campaign?
Ans. It’s a campaign that encourages consumers to look out for information on the meat on the platter. Under this campaign, you can ask about the meat you are eating in a restaurant.
Q. What is the indication of pure Irish meat?
Ans. Craft Butcher logo on the packaging ensures that the meat is traditional, and of the highest quality produced.
Q. What can I prepare for St. Patrick’s Day?
Ans. You can go for the traditional recipes like Irish stew, corned beef, and so on.
