Last month, I wrote a story about Australians’ love-hate relationship with kangaroos. I covered the feelings of farmers whose crops are ruined by kangaroos. I also covered the views of “Aussies” who like to eat kangaroos.
The kicker for some is that kangaroos are on our coat of arms. They are the icon of many Australian sports teams. How could we eat our national emblem?
As I pointed out, many countries eat national icons or emblems, so we are not alone.
Aussies have always been known for their fairness, well except perhaps when the cricketers decided to do a number on the cricket ball in South Africa. So as not to show any form of impartiality, we also eat the other side of the emblem. Yes, Australians are rather partial to an emu steak!
A Little Bit About Emus
The emu, native to Australia, is one of the largest flightless birds and an iconic Australian animal. Alongside the kangaroo, it features on the Australian national coat of arms.
Like the kangaroo, the emu has a long spiritual bond with Indigenous Australians. They value it for food and medicine.
Some tribes have strict gendered laws. They guide traditional lifestyles. For example, women are not permitted to eat the flesh or eggs of the emu until they are old and grey-headed. For some, parts of the emu’s flesh have sacred power, so, butchering them was a highly ritualized act.
Adult emus have few natural predators besides dingoes and wedge-tailed eagles. Feral dogs, pigs, eagles, foxes, snakes, and goannas eat their eggs and chicks. Like many native Australian animals, habitat loss and fragmentation are the main threats.
Fences, meant to protect crops, block animals’ natural movements. They often cause many animals to get crushed at the fence lines or hit by cars on the roads.
People say that they are very playful and curious. I don’t recommend asking an emu to a game of chase.
Their feet, like the ostrich’s, can rip you apart instantly. Once they get going, they can run fast, so you would lose the game anyway.
Emus can reach a top speed of up to 50 km/h (31 mph), and adults stand up to 2 meters (almost 6 feet) tall. Their numbers remain stable in the wild as they adapt well to Australia’s climate. Experts estimate that more than 700,000 plus emus exist in the wild, with another 100,000 on commercial farms.
Their name derives from their signature call, which resembles “e-moo.” (Would I lie to you?)
We not only eat them, but we also smear their oil too.
Emu oil has enjoyed a presence in cosmetic skin care for quite some time.
In the last ten years, emu oil treatments have gained popularity. They are used for high cholesterol, rheumatoid arthritis, and skin issues like eczema and psoriasis. They also treat hair loss and aid in wound repair.
The oil is rich in vitamins A, D, E, F, and Omega 3, 6, 7, and 9. Its list of benefits is as long as an emu’s leg (excuse the pun!). Its use in cosmetic and skin-care creams is based more on anecdotes than clinical studies.
The rise in testimonials keeps people coming back. So, the industry has grown, especially in places like India and China.
Chomping down on an emu steak is taking Aussies a bit longer to get used to. It is less popular than kangaroo steaks but is often served in gimmicky restaurants. They offer strange Australian foods like kangaroo, crocodile, and feral pig. You can also buy it in specialty supermarkets or butchers.
The American Heart Association recognizes emu meat as a healthy alternative to beef. Emu meat has more iron, protein, and vitamin C than beef. Its fat and cholesterol levels are the same as poultry.
Emu meat is extremely low-fat (less than 1.5%), containing only 3 grams per 3.5-ounce serving. It is said to taste like chicken or goose, but, like ostrich, it is red meat. Some say it’s like a healthy filet mignon. (That may be an exaggeration!).
A public uproar forced Qantas, Australia’s top airline, to remove it after it tried to add it to its menu. (They could hardly serve their emblem up for dinner, could they?)
Future of the Emu
Emu is a healthy meat, like kangaroos. But it is not as accepted by the public as the kangaroo. Some claim that it is less ethical to eat emus than kangaroos. There is no logic to this. Indigenous Australians hold both in high regard. Both are on our national emblem and coat of arms.
One could argue that it matters less to eat kangaroo, with more kangaroos in the wild. But, a life is a life. I could argue that since emus are farmed and killed for their oil and feathers (which they make faster dusters from), we should use their meat too. Let’s maximize their sacrifice.
Using the meat would make emu farming more ethical. Often, the carcass is discarded due to low demand for the meat.
An Australian coat of arms mixed grill may take a while to appear on the menu. But, if you see emu in your travels, try it. It’s like a lot of things. If you don’t know what you’re eating, some things are enjoyable until you find out what they are.
I found emu to be quite good.
It tastes better than venison, which can be a bit ‘gamey’.
I draw the line at witchetty grubs, though. These little critters are another ‘fad’ Aussie food we feed visitors. They have no diplomatic status, and people say they taste like nuts.
You would have to tie me down before I’d eat one.
