This equivalent to Wagyu beef is the most highly prized pork in Japan and is made from pure-bred Berkshire pigs. Kurobuta pork is darker and richer in flavour than white pork and the meat is well-marbled. Legend has it that Oliver Cromwell discovered the Berkshire breed during the 1600s while his army was at winter’s quarters in Reading in Berkshire. From that time, the Berkshire breed has been revered for its outstanding quality, texture and flavour. During the early 1800s, the breed was refined and has remained a pure breed ever since. Berkshire swine were first brought to Japan as a gift from the British government in the 19th century. Also, known as Japanese black hog, the breed has thrived in Japan as Kurobuta pork.
