If you have heard of Japanese Wagyu steak, you have also heard of its price tag. Known for being the highest quality of beef on the market, Wagyu steak can cost anywhere from $30 to $3,000.



Wagyu steak is prized for being incredibly tender and having a rich, buttery flavor. It is so expensive due to the manner in which the cows were raised and slaughtered. There are strict guidelines for beef to qualify as Wagyu.



The young cattle are fed milk by hand and grow up grazing on an open pasture. They are given warm jackets when it gets cold and given names and certificates instead of just a number and an ear tag. The cows are also brushed and massaged daily to stimulate blood flow, according to The Metro.



In most circumstances, the label Wagyu doesn't really mean it's the full thing. In the US and UK, it is usually 50%, meaning it was crossed with other less expensive cow breeds. The only way to know it's 100% real is with the certificate and particular farm information.



Have you ever tried certified Wagyu beef?