What does bear oil taste like?

[nihonniirugaijin]

Bear fat that was boiled down to oil, sometimes mixed with maple sugar, was used like ketchup by the Indians and fur traders. I don't have access to bear oil. What can I use that tastes similar to that? Thanks for any help.

 

[aks]

Never heard of this but I'm going to look into it.

 

[nihonniirugaijin]

I assume it probably tastes similar to regular bear fat, but I don't access to that either.

 

[RockAndSage]

I suspect it would probably taste similar to dipping something into the oil in a pan that's had maple sausages cooked in it, but with more maple.

 

[nihonniirugaijin]

Sorry, I should clarify, I'm more interested in what the taste of the bear fat itself would be similar to. I can get ahold of the maple sugar. Thanks for the replies.

 

[amassi]

Unless the bear was heavily eating blueberries, trash or fish- once the fat is rendered it is basically palate neutral
So no umami like beef tallow, close to pork fat
It’s neutrality is why it’s so great to bake with


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[whitetailhunter1]

Interesting.

 

[nihonniirugaijin]

Thanks for the information. Would lard be a close approximation? If the bear has been eating blueberries, does the meat and fat taste sweeter?

 

[MDR]

Depends on the bear. Grass fed spring bear is pretty neutral. Just use lard unless you find a bear hunter to give you some.

 

[Jtb.kfd]

My wife renders all our bear fat each year. She also renders cow fat into tallow. The two are pure white, taste neutral and the same consistency. Lard would be different, beef tallow would be the closest in my opinion. I boil skulls down with the brain in to make bone broth also. Just finished some elk and the fat skimmed off the top after everything cooled 48 hours later looks and tastes the same as tallow or rendered bear fat. If you have access to ruminants heads, this could be an option as well. As for bear fat tasting different, the only time we have found it to have a flavor (not good usually) is boars shot during the rut or fall bears eating skunk cabbage. I have been told salmon can make their fat strong tasting but I have no experience there. We shoot several bears a year that have been gorging on blueberries and it does not add flavor or taste.