The next review of Crazy Horse Jerky will be on a 2 ounce/56 gram bag of their Cajun flavor. This jerky was graciously submitted for review by Cara Wenrich, the wife of the owner, Dave Wenrich.
Crazy Horse Jerky is based out of Hellam, Pennsylvania, known as Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Their jerky is manufactured and distributed under the company name Crazy Horse Jerky LLC. The Crazy Horse Jerky brand was launched in 2009. Following a family recipe that started in the 19th century, their jerky is smoked in a smoker that Dave built, who is a carpenter by trade.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled White Vinegar, Molasses, Water, Sugar, Onions, Anchovies, Salt, Garlic, Cloves, Tamarind Extract, Natural Flavorings, Chili Pepper Extract), Soy Sauce (Water, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Corn Syrup, Caramel Color), Corn Syrup, Cajun Seasoning, Smoke. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Anchovies
The beef used here is grass fed, originating from both the USA and Canada. That qualifies this jerky to be free range, with grass being a part of the cattle’s natural diet. It is believed that this beef is also ethically raised, meaning no growth hormones were given, and no additional antibiotics.
The liquid marinade consists of water, a good Worcestershire sauce, gluten free soy sauce, and corn syrup. Our preference is that no corn based products be used in jerky.
There is no nutrition facts table provided. As a result, the exact sugar and salt levels are unknown.
True to their claim, there are no preservatives used in Crazy Horse Jerky apart from salt. That qualifies this jerky to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives.
This jerky does not qualify to be MSG free because the highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used. While it is effective in giving you that soy flavor, it is a form of MSG. Being hydrolyzed, it is also an unhealthy type of trans fats.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of beef are your classic sized jerky, sliced into rectangular shapes. The thickness is medium, or just barely on the thick side. This texture is dry, but certainly not too dry, which results in jerky that is easy to chew. There is no fat to be found on any of these strips. Handling this jerky does leave a slight oily residue on your fingers.
First off the smoked flavor is detected, followed by the natural beef flavor. There is a light soy taste, and the saltiness level remains moderate. As for a Cajun flavor, while pleasant tasting, it is mild tasting. While not an absolute requirement for a Cajun flavor, there is no level of spiciness to this jerky. Nonetheless, this is still a very tasty and juicy jerky.
You can purchase a 4 ounce/113 gram bag online for $8.49, which works out to $2.12 an ounce. That rates as an average price. Even though the Cajun flavor is not all that strong tasting, this jerky is recommended as worth your money.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
We have an ordinary transparent plastic bag here. A label is affixed to the front, and nothing is on the back. There is no easy of way opening this bag, where you need a sharp object like a knife or scissors. Crazy Horse Jerky deserves credit for using a vacuum sealed bag, the best way to keep jerky fresh.
On the label is the Crazy Horse Jerky logo, with what looks like a stallion on its hind legs. The four beef jerky flavors are displayed, where somebody takes a marker to circle the appropriate flavor. Then the jerky weight in ounces is manually written. While not printed on the bag, one of their slogans is “Crazy Good!”
There are quite a few bag categories missing here. Missing bag categories are slogans, bar code, nutrition facts table, jerky weight stated in grams, ingredient list, allergen alerts, a best before date, an easy to open bag, a blurb about Crazy Horse Jerky, and no jerky maker address details.
The Cajun flavored 4 ounce/113 gram bag listed below was part of the online purchase that I made in 2011 that cost $8.49.
Order their jerky online: www.crazyhorsejerky.com
Leave a Comment