While we all know food comes in many different shapes, sizes, and colors, most people are blown away when they find out there’s such a thing as black chicken meat.
If you’ve just stumbled across black chicken meat for the first time, don’t worry, you’re not the only one that’s confused.
Black chicken is quite rare which is one of the main reasons you might not have seen it before. However, now you have, you probably want to learn more about it. If you do, you’ve come to the right place.
In today’s post, we’re going to tell you everything you need to know. We’ll answer the question, what is black chicken, tell you what it tastes like, and even show you some delicious recipes you can make.
Stick around if you want to learn more about this interesting meat!
So, What Exactly Is Black Chicken?
The most obvious place to start is with a description of what black chicken actually is. The term black chicken is generally used to refer to any chicken that has dark plumage.
To be more specific though, most poultry experts use the name black chicken for any species of chicken that is completely black. Black chicken is arguably the most intensely pigmented creature on the planet.
It is completely black. By that, we mean a black chicken has a black beak, feathers, tongue, flesh, skin, and even bones.
Depending on the breed of chicken, they can range in color. For example, some black chickens have black bones and skin but white plumage.
Where Do Black Chickens Come From?
Most black chicken breeds come from Asia, where they are considered a local delicacy. Over the years, farmers have selectively bred the birds so that they have more black body parts.
This is one of the main reasons for the increase in the number of chickens that are black. In Asia, black chicken is also believed to have medicinal properties. On the other hand, a lot of people keep black chickens simply because they look beautiful.
Of course, most people use them in cooking or to produce eggs.
Can We Eat Black Chicken?
Despite the strange color, we can eat black chicken. Like more traditional-looking chicken, black chicken is a great source of protein that we can add to most dishes.
Black chicken also has a savory flavor like normal chicken, so apart from the color, not very much changes. Having said that, there are some differences between the two that you should know about, the main one being that black chicken is a lot harder to find and much more expensive.
We’ll look at the other differences now!
What’s The Difference Between Black Chicken And Regular Chicken?
Aside from the obvious color difference and availability issues that come with black chicken, the main difference between regular and black chicken is quality.
Generally, black chicken meat is much tastier than regular chicken. It has a more savory flavor and tends to have a softer texture. It tends to be richer meat too. Black chicken is also a better source of antioxidants and a rich source of carnosine.
Therefore, black chicken might be a healthier option than regular chicken.
The Different Breeds Of Black Chicken
What might come as a surprise to you is that there are more than 10 different breeds of black chicken found around the world. In the next part of this post, we’re going to show you the different breeds of black chicken and where they come from.
We’ve listed every breed of black chicken below!
Ayam Cemani – Indonesia, Asia
Langshan – United Kingdom and United States
La Fleche – France, Europe
Crevecoeur – France, Europe
Svart Hona – Sweden (Europe) and Indonesia (Asia)
Cochin – China, Asia
Menorca – Spain, Europe
Orpington – United Kingdom
Breda – Holland, Europe
Silkie – China, Europe
Jersey Giant – United States
Australorp – United Kingdom and Australia
Sumatra – Indonesia, Asia
Java – United States
The Best Black Chicken Recipes
To finish off, we’d like to leave you with a selection of the best black chicken recipes. If you’re lucky enough to get your hands on some black chicken, these are the recipes you should try first!
Silkie chicken soup, also known as black bone soup, is a classic Chinese soup recipe that you can make in one hour with just several ingredients.
This fragrant soup is packed with comforting flavors that will blow your taste buds away. The combination of savory meat, rich broth, and sharp ginger is to die for.
Another delicious soup recipe you can make with black chicken is this delightful double-boiled black chicken herbal soup recipe. This herbal soup is super nourishing and refreshing.
Aside from being incredibly tasty, it is packed with valuable health benefits. It is believed that this soup can boost energy levels, improve blood circulation, and replenish blood stores.
Finally, we have a tasty black chicken curry recipe that you can make in one hour. This recipe calls for 10 ingredients so you shouldn’t have any trouble making it. That is, of course, if you can find black chicken.
Some of the key ingredients needed to make this black chicken curry recipe include black chicken, wheat flour, coriander leaves, onions, mustard oil, turmeric, and red chilies.
Final Thoughts
Now you’ve made your way through this post, you know everything you need to know about black chicken. We’ve told you what it is, the differences between black chicken and regular chicken, and how it tastes, and we’ve even shown you some tasty recipes to try.
All you have to do now is try and get hold of this rare meat and give it a try. If you manage to get hold of some, we’re sure you’ll love it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is Black Chicken More Expensive?
Black chicken is usually more expensive than regular chicken because it’s hard to get hold of. Black chicken breeds are a lot rarer than regular chicken breeds.
Do Black Chickens Have Black Blood?
No, despite almost everything else being black, black chickens don’t have black blood. This was simply a myth that once surrounded Ayam Cemani chickens.
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
