Tripe

Tripe is the stomach of an animal. It is a tough meat that requires a long, slow, and moist cooking process. Because it contains bacteria that are harmful to humans, tripe must be thoroughly cleaned before it makes its way into the simmering pot. Tripe is nutritious and contains calcium, niacin, iron, zinc, and protein. The tripe of cow, deer, sheep, goats, and pigs are all consumed. Boiling tripe will result in large amounts of gelatin.

Beef tripe is made from the first three chambers of a cow’s stomach: the rumen, the reticulum, and the omasum. The preferred beef tripe is from the reticulum (the second stomach of a ruminating animal) because it is the tenderest and possesses a subtle flavor. The reticulum is also known for its resemblance to honeycomb, and is sometimes called honeycomb tripe.