This review will be on a 4 ounce/113 gram bag of New Beef King oyster flavored beef jerky. In December 2014, this bag was purchased at the New Beef King store located in the Chinatown section of Manhattan in New York, New York. That makes this an oriental jerky.
New Beef King was started by Robert Yee over 20 years ago, who was born in Hong Kong, and moved to New York at age 10. He had a Grand Aunt who had an old family recipe for jerky. In Robert’s 30’s, he traveled to Hong Kong to acquire that family recipe, and shortly afterwards opened up New Beef King in Manhattan Chinatown. This jerky is slowly oven baked. The end result is jerky that has a soft and tender texture.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Oyster Sauce, Soy Sauce, Sugar, Salt, Spices, Black Pepper Allergen Warnings: Soy
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 comprised of oyster sauce and soy sauce. The sauce ingredient lists are not known.
There is no nutrition facts table provided. As a result, the exact sugar and salt levels are unknown.
This jerky is believed to have no sodium nitrite. Instead, salt is the main preservative. This jerky is believed to have no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These hand sliced chunks style are shaped as small cubes, similar to stewing beef. This texture is advertised to be soft and tender. While the exterior is not quite soft and tender, once you start chewing this jerky it sort of crumbles in your mouth. The exterior also has a thick, noticeable oily film of sauces. There are no visible signs of fat on this jerky.
The first flavor detected is the actual oyster sauce, but not an overwhelming taste, and not very fishy tasting. There is a moderate soy taste, and a faint touch of garlic. This flavor certainly has a sweetness, too much actually.
There is a familiar Oriental taste, but we are unable to pinpoint what it is. Overall, this jerky texture is impressive with an unusual type of soft and tender texture. The taste is decent, flavorful, but too sweet tasting.
A 4 ounce/ 113 gram bag sells for $6.99. That works out to $1.75 an ounce, which equates to an average price. This jerky is recommended as worth your money if you don’t mind the sweetness.
Bag Review
Not uncommon for a store that specializes in selling jerky, the jerky is sold in bulk, and packaged in a clear, plastic bag. At least there were labels available that state the flavor name, and the company web site.
There are too many bag categories missing to list all of them. To the credit of New Beef King, they provide an insert with their jerky. This insert gives instructions to consume the jerky within three days, or, refrigerate the jerky and consume within three weeks.
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