The product name shown on the Rakuten Ichiba product page includes “杜の都 仙台 名物,” but this is not an indication of where the ingredients come from; the beef tongue used is stated to be from Australia and the United States. The same shop has a separate product page for a 300g size (listed as 2–3 servings); this article covers the product page for the 500g size (listed as 3–4 servings). With thick-cut beef tongue, it can be hard to tell up front whether it must be thawed before grilling, whether it can be eaten raw, and how long it keeps frozen. In this article, we organized the 肉のいとう Aged Thick-Cut Beef Tongue, Salt-Seasoned, 500g (3–4 servings) under five points (amount, storage, whether cooking is required, suitability as a gift, and reviews), based on the Rakuten Ichiba product page, the information images within it, and Rakuten reviews.
What We Confirmed
- Amount and approximate number of servings
- Storage, best-before date, and thawing guidance
- Whether cooking is required (whether it can be eaten raw)
- Ingredient and allergen labeling
- Whether it works as a gift (including packaging guidance)
- Trends in public reviews
Basic Information
This table transcribes what is stated on the product page. However, the “Not confirmed” labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product Name | 肉のいとう 熟成肉厚牛たん 塩味 500g（3〜4人分） (Aged Thick-Cut Beef Tongue, Salt-Seasoned, 500g, 3–4 servings)The product name shown on the Rakuten Ichiba product page also lists words such as place names, awards, and TV appearances. “杜の都 仙台 名物” does not indicate the origin of the ingredients. “Gold award” (金賞受賞) and “Featured on TV” (TVで紹介) are the shop’s own displays, and Ochinity has not verified the awards or the TV appearances (the dated details are given in the “Awards and TV Appearance Displays” row below).Source: Rakuten Ichiba product name (viewed October 2, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Name | Salt-cured beef tongueSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Amount | 500g (500g × 1 pack). It is stated to be delivered as 1 pack in 1 box. “3–4 servings” is the guideline given in the product name; no breakdown is stated. The number of pieces in the pack, the thickness of each piece, and whether the pack has dividers are Not confirmedSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description and product name (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Storage Method | It is stated that it should be stored frozen (−18°C or below)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product description (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Best-Before Date | Stated as 180 days from the date of manufacture, kept frozenSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Country of Origin | Beef tongue: Australia, United States. Two countries are listed, and which country’s meat will arrive (it may differ by lot) is Not confirmedSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Place of Processing | Not confirmedNo statement of the place of processing itself was found. The manufacturer’s location is given in the “Manufacturer” row below. |
| Condition / How to Eat (Whether Cooking Is Needed) | It is beef tongue before cooking and is not for eating raw, so it is advised to cook it thoroughly through to the center before eatingSource: information image on the Rakuten Ichiba product page (explanation of how to eat) (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Thawing | It is advised to thaw it before grilling, to grill it fully thawed, and to eat it soon after thawing. A specific method (refrigerator or room temperature), the time needed, and the number of days it keeps after thawing are not described and are Not confirmedSource: same as above (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Delivery | Frozen delivery is indicated in the product name. The number of days until shipping and the estimated delivery date are Not confirmedSource: Rakuten Ichiba product name (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Manufacturer | WIDEFOOD株式会社 (肉のいとう). The address is stated as Aoba-ku, Sendai, MiyagiSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Awards and TV Appearance Displays | The shop’s information images show a 2022 gold award from Monde Selection Bruxelles and a “gold award two years in a row” (2年連続金賞) display. The category, and whether the award was for the boxed product or for this product, are Not confirmed. In addition, the shop’s information images state that, in the episode of the TBS program “モニタリング” (Monitoring) broadcast on May 9, 2024, the shop’s product was used as a prize in a quiz within the program. Both are displays the shop placed in its own information images; they were not verified by a third party, and Ochinity has not verified the awards or the broadcast. Other displays of awards, rankings, TV, and magazines are not included in this article because the organizer, timing, or category cannot be confirmed, or because the displays do not agree with each otherSource: information image on the Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed October 2, 2026) |
| Shop | 肉のいとう 楽天市場店 (Rakuten Ichiba) |
Prices and shipping fees are not listed here because they change. Please check the latest price, stock, and shipping fees at the link above.
This Product Must Be Cooked Before Eating
This product is beef tongue before cooking, and it is meant to be cooked thoroughly through to the center before eating. The information image on the product page advises cooking it thoroughly through to the center because it is not for eating rawSource: information image on the Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed October 2, 2026). As for how to grill it, the steps shown are: place the beef tongue, thawed beforehand, in a frying pan heated with a little oil, grill it over heat between high and medium until it takes on color, turn it over, and eat it with shichimi or ichimi chili pepper and the likeSource: same as above (viewed October 2, 2026). It also advises being careful because overcooking makes it hard, and grilling it fully thawedSource: same as above (viewed October 2, 2026)。
Ingredient and Allergen Labeling
The ingredients are listed as beef tongue (Australia, United States), salt, pepper, pH adjuster, and seasoning (amino acids), and the label indicates that part of the ingredients contains beefSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description (viewed October 2, 2026). The product description also notes that the ingredients of the pH adjuster may differ depending on the production lotSource: same as above (viewed October 2, 2026)。
Within what we could check, beef is the only item listed in the allergen labeling, and no separate field showing the full food labeling was found. Beef is not among the “specified raw materials” for which labeling is mandatory, but it is among the “items equivalent to specified raw materials,” for which labeling is recommended. If you want to check the ingredients of additives used in processing (pH adjuster, seasoning), or are concerned about contamination by other allergens, ask the shop before buying or check the label on the product when it arrives.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”(accessed October 2, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before Buying
| What to Check | This Product | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount / servings | 500g (500g × 1 pack). “3–4 servings” is the guideline given in the product name, and no breakdown is stated. The 300g size from the same shop is a separate product page. The number of pieces in the pack and the thickness of each piece are Not confirmed | Rakuten Ichiba product description and product name |
| 2. Storage and shelf life | Stored frozen (−18°C or below), with a best-before date stated as 180 days from the date of manufacture. It is beef tongue before cooking, not for eating raw, and must be cooked through to the center. It is advised to eat it soon after thawing, but the number of days is Not confirmed | Rakuten Ichiba product description and information image on the page |
| 3. Ingredient and allergen labeling | Beef tongue (Australia, United States), salt, pepper, pH adjuster, seasoning (amino acids). The only allergen listed is beef. The ingredients of the pH adjuster may differ depending on the production lot. Place of processing: Not confirmed | Rakuten Ichiba product description |
| 4. Suitable as a gift? | Noshi (gift wrapping label) is stated to be available (a bow-knot style is the default, with many examples of inscriptions listed; a note says some products cannot be accommodated). Wrapping and message cards are Not confirmed. Whether the packaging includes a box also cannot be confirmed from the product page and is Not confirmed (it may not be shipped in a box) | Rakuten Ichiba product description and information image on the page |
| 5. Review trends | (We read the first 59 reviews in the “Standard” sort order (posted October 5, 2025 to September 23, 2026; latest September 23, 2026), 29 of the 36 reviews filtered to 1★ (posted July 2016 to September 2026), and all 18 filtered to 2★ (posted September 2015 to June 2022). This sort order and the range we read may not reflect the current condition.) Rakuten Ichiba rating: 4.63 / 5 (2,330 reviews). Many posts mention the thickness, tenderness, and the product being well received as a gift, while the 1★ and 2★ reviews also include comments about toughness and sinew | Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 2, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
The product page explains noshi and wrapping as follows.
- Noshi (gift wrapping label): It is stated that various noshi types are available. If no request is made, a bow-knot style is the default, and if you want a tied-knot style or a Buddhist style, you are asked to write it in the remarks field. Many examples of inscriptions are listed, including return gift (uchi-iwai), celebration, oseibo (year-end gift), New Year’s greeting, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, Respect for the Aged Day, recovery celebration, get-well, and thanks. However, there is also a note that some products cannot accommodate noshi or wrapping, and it cannot be judged from the product page whether this applies to this product
- Packaging: The packaging specifications, including whether there is a box, are not found on the product page and are Not confirmed. The information image that carries the award display shows a boxed product, but which one arrives is Not confirmed
- Wrapping, message cards, and name printing: Nothing is shown in the gift field of the product page, so this is Not confirmed. The keyword field for uses includes words that mention noshi and wrapping, but the same field carries a note that some products cannot be accommodated, so it cannot be judged whether this product is covered
Source: Rakuten Ichiba product description and information images on the page (viewed October 2, 2026)
The product name and the use keywords list gift-oriented words such as Father’s Day, ochugen (mid-year gift), and gift, but these are the shop’s displays and do not indicate that it is shipped in a box. If you are considering it as a gift, checking the following before buying helps avoid mix-ups.
- The presence of a box cannot be confirmed from the product page (whether a boxed gift is expected)
- It arrives frozen, so whether the recipient can receive it at that date and time and by that method
- Whether you can tell the recipient that this is a product meant to be cooked (grilled)
(The reviews were read in the “Standard” sort order, the first 59, posted October 5, 2025 to September 23, 2026, and this sort order may not reflect the current condition.) On the review site, many posts say it was used as a gift, such as for oseibo, ochugen, a birthday, or Mother’s Day, and was well received (Source: Rakuten customer reviews, viewed October 2, 2026).
What Public Reviews Say
We organized the Rakuten Ichiba product reviews by viewpoint. The rating figures are as of the time viewed and change afterward.
| Site | Rating | Number of Reviews | Date Viewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.63 / 5 | 2,330 | October 2, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 1,712 / 4★ 473 / 3★ 91 / 2★ 18 / 1★ 36 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 2, 2026)
What we read: the first 59 reviews in the “Standard” sort order (posted October 2025 to September 2026; latest September 2026), 29 of the 36 reviews filtered to 1★ (posted July 2016 to September 2026), and all 18 filtered to 2★ (posted September 2015 to June 2022), 106 in total. This sort order and the range we read may not reflect the current condition.
What Reviewers Praise
Rating as a gift
About 29 of the 59 posts in the “Standard” sort order said they chose it as a gift, such as for oseibo, ochugen, a birthday, or Mother’s Day, and that the recipient was pleased.
Thickness and satisfying bite
About 20 of the 59 posts mentioned that it is thick and satisfying, with good volume.
Thick yet tender
About 18 of the 59 posts said that despite the thickness it was tender and easy to bite through. Some of the 4★ posts also noted that part of it was hard.
Repeat purchases
About 17 of the 59 posts wrote that they buy it repeatedly.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 2, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Toughness and sinew
About 25 of the 47 posts in total at 1★ and 2★ mentioned that it was tough, that sinew remained, or that some parts could not be bitten through. However, only 5 of these were posted in the last two years (all 1★), and the rest are mostly older posts, so this does not necessarily reflect the current condition of the product. About 4 of the 59 posts in the “Standard” sort order also mentioned it.
How to check: The shop’s guidance on how to grill it (do not overcook it, and grill it fully thawed) is collected in the “This Product Must Be Cooked Before Eating” section of this article.
Smell
About 8 of the 47 posts at 1★ and 2★ mentioned that the smell bothered them. 1 of these was posted in the last two years, and most were posted between 2020 and 2022.
The 500g is frozen as one block
About 5 posts mentioned that it was not divided into smaller portions, so the whole amount had to be thawed rather than just the part they needed (3 of the 59 posts in the “Standard” sort order and 2 of the 29 posts at 1★). The two 1★ posts were posted in 2016 and 2019.
How to check: The amount is collected in the “Amount” row of the “Basic Information” section of this article. Whether the pack has dividers is not confirmed.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 2, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- Those who want to grill thick beef tongue at home (many posts in the reviews mention the thickness and satisfying bite)
- Those who want to keep it frozen and choose when to eat it (best-before date stated as 180 days from the date of manufacture)
- Those who want to send it as a gift with noshi and an inscription (noshi is stated to be available, but because there is also a note that some products cannot be accommodated, check with the shop before buying)
- Those who want to follow the shop’s grilling guidance and check how far it is cooked
Who Should Be Careful
- Those who want to eat it rare or close to raw (this product must be cooked)
- Those who want to give it in a box (whether there is a box is Not confirmed)
- Those who worry about toughness or sinew (pointed out in the 1★ and 2★ reviews)
- Those who want to know the specific thawing method and time, and the number of pieces and thickness per pack, in advance (not confirmed)
Prices, stock, shipping fees, and delivery dates are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 2, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before purchasing. This product must be cooked before eating (it is not for eating raw).
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
Summary
- It is beef tongue before cooking and not for eating raw. Following the shop’s guidance, thaw it completely and then cook it through to the center
- Stored frozen, with a best-before date stated as 180 days from the date of manufacture. The 500g arrives as 1 pack, and whether the packaging includes a box is Not confirmed
- Reviews mostly mention thickness, tenderness, and ratings as a gift, while the 1★ and 2★ reviews point out toughness and sinew (5 of these in the last two years)
Related Pages
This article organizes information publicly available on the sales sites and review pages. Product details such as the amount, storage method, and ingredients may change. Please check the seller’s listing for the latest information.
Comments on taste or quality are summarized from third-party posts cited with their source, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: October 2, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Ichiba “肉のいとう 楽天市場店” product page and information images on the page, Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
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