Caribou Meat

Caribou meat is a lean, dark red game meat with a rich, slightly sweet flavour that’s milder than venison from other deer species. Caribou — known as reindeer in Europe and Asia — are large migratory deer native to Arctic and sub-Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Siberia.

The meat is versatile and can be prepared much like other lean game meats — roasted, grilled, braised, or made into sausages, jerky, and stews. Because it’s very lean, it benefits from careful cooking to avoid drying out. Slow braising and stewing suit tougher cuts, while tenderloin and backstrap are excellent quickly seared.

Caribou meat is not commonly available in Australia, but it may occasionally be found through specialty game meat suppliers. It holds deep cultural significance for Indigenous peoples of the Arctic, who have relied on caribou as a primary food source for millennia.