Note: For a more current taste review open up Maui~Licious – Hot Beef Jerky (Review #2).
The next review on Maui~Licious will focus on a 3.65 ounce/103 gram bag of their hot flavor. This jerky was graciously submitted by the owner Dr. Charles R. Medeiros (Dr. Chuck).
The Maui~Licious jerky brand name is manufactured and distributed by Maui~Licious, Inc. They are located in San Juan Capistrano, California, which started business in early 2000. Dr. Chuck was born and raised on the Island of Maui prior to Hawaii becoming the 50th state. They own the trademark name Teri-Licious, which is their teriyaki sauce that was created over 75 years ago.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce, (Water, Wheat, Soybeans and Salt) Granulated Sugar, Garlic, Ginger, Sesame Seed Oil, Minced Onion, Lavender Spice, Bourbon Flavor (Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Carmel Color, Water, Artificial Flavors, contains Sulfites), Chili Peppers, Spices. Allergen Warnings: Sesame, Soy, Wheat
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is purely just teriyaki sauce. Sesame seed oil is a healthy food, but some people have a sesame allergen.
It is nice to see some super healthy vegetables used, such as minced onion, garlic, and ginger. With this being a hot flavor, chili peppers are used, and are healthy if eaten in moderation.
Easily the worst ingredient is the bourbon flavor. Bourbon is one of the more expensive alcohols out there, where it would be much cheaper to use some sort of unhealthy, artificial flavor. Using artificial flavors is terrible, and especially propylene glycol, which is a derivative of oil.
The sugar level is extremely high at 13 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less. The salt level is just at the acceptable limit of 350mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similarly unhealthy preservatives. Instead, salt is the main preservative. Admirably, this jerky contains no MSG.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Most of the jerky strips are small in size. For the most part, the thickness is medium, while some pieces of this jerky could pass as borderline thin. As advertised, the texture is soft and tender. There are no signs of fat on this jerky, and no residue is left on your fingers when handling this jerky.
The first taste detected is a strong sweetness from the granulated sugar. This flavor is so strong, it masks the actual natural beef flavor. There is a moderate saltiness with this jerky. The sesame taste from the sesame seed oil is noticeable, but never overbearing. While not consistent from strip to strip, the heat level would rate about a 2 out of 4 on the heat scale.
You can purchase this 3.65 ounce/103 gram bag online for $7.99. That works out to $2.18 an ounce which rates as an average price. This jerky was too sweet tasting, and not hot enough for our liking.
Bag Review
This bag certainly has some color. No labels on this bag, everything is imprinted directly on the bag. There are colorful plants and flowers, with a body of water in the background, presumably the ocean. Above the water, the sky in the background gradually gets bluer the higher it gets, quite clever.
Slogans printed on the bag are “Gourmet”, “Tender & Juicy” and “Deliciously Flavorful”. The Teri-Licious trademark name is printed on both the front and back.
Almost all bag categories are covered. Missing are allergen alerts, and the jerky weight is not stated in grams. This 3.65 ounce/103 gram bag was admirably vacuum sealed, the best way for a jerky maker to keep their product fresh. There is a nice blurb about Maui~Licious printed on the bag. To the credit of Maui~Licious, they provide a toll free number for any customer inquiries.
There are a number of bags displayed in this review that deserve mention.
- Photograph #1 – The front of a 3.65 ounce/103 gram bag
- Photograph #2 – The back of a 3.65 ounce/103 gram bag
- Photograph #3 – All the jerky strips.
- Photograph #4 – A close up of some strips.
- Photograph #5 – The front of a 1.8 ounce/51 gram bag that retails for $4.99, also kindly submitted by Dr. Chuck.
- Photograph #6 – The back of a 1.8 ounce/51 gram bag, also kindly submitted by Dr. Chuck.
- Photograph #7 – The front of a 3.65 ounce/103 gram bag purchased in 2011, while visiting San Clemente, California, which cost $6.99.
- Photograph #8 – The back of a 3.65 ounce/103 gram bag purchased in 2011, while visiting San Clemente, California
Order their jerky online: www.maui-licious.com
Its no test this Jerky, IS the BEST. MauiLicious has been my #1 selling jerky ever since i can remember. It didn’t happen over night but with testimonials from people who have tried it, word has spread! Considering its the only Jerky that wont hurt my jaw and has an amazing juicy flavor its the only one Ill buy!