The first review on The New Primal will be on a 2 ounce/56 gram bag of their spicy flavored 100% grass-fed beef jerky. This bag was purchased in late December 2014 at a Fairway Market in Woodland Park, New Jersey.
The New Primal brand name is based out of Charleston, South Carolina, and was founded by Jason Burke. In Spring 2010, Jason discovered the Primal philosophy of eating: lean meats, lots of vegetables, nuts, and some fruit. Soon jerky became an obsession, and The New Primal beef jerky started selling online in the Winter of 2010. As of January 2014, over 400 retail locations carried their jerky brand.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: 100% Grass Fed Beef, Gluten Free Tamari (Water, Soybeans, Salt), Honey, Pineapple Juice, Lemon Juice, Garlic, Black Pepper, Ginger, Cayenne Pepper, Jalapenos, Liquid Smoke. Allergen Warnings: Soy
This jerky uses 100% grass-fed beef, the way nature intended. These cattle are raised ethically, meaning they are not fed growth hormones, or additional antibiotics.
The liquid marinade consists of gluten free tamari soy sauce (GMO free), honey, pineapple juice, lemon juice, and liquid smoke. Juices are somewhat healthy, where pineapples have an enzyme named bromelain that acts naturally as a meat tenderizer.
Admirably, the only sweetener used is honey. The quality of honey can vary widely. Most big name honey brands barely even resemble honey with little to no pollen content. Jason assures us that The New Primal uses organic honey.
Healthy spices such as cayenne pepper and black pepper are used. It is always great to see garlic and ginger used, which are arguably in the superfood category. Jalapenos are healthy if eaten in moderation.
The sugar level is slightly high at 4 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less. The salt level is respectable at 280mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
There is no sodium nitrite used, nor any other similar unhealthy preservatives. This jerky primarily uses salt as the preservative. As another bonus, this jerky has no MSG added.
Excellent (10/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These are mostly long and narrow strips of jerky, sliced to a medium thickness. The strips have a great, dry texture that is relatively easy to chew. There are no visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves very little residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a fairly strong soy taste, mixed with a moderate taste of pineapple. The spiciness is at a mild level. There is a light taste of garlic, while the ginger and pepper are faint tasting. This jerky does offer a fair amount of natural beef flavor.
There is a light smoked flavor in the background, which is a good contrast to this jerky barely being sweet tasting. Overall, this jerky reminds us of how homemade beef jerky tastes.
This 2 ounce/56 gram bag cost $6.49, which works out to $3.25 an ounce. That rates as an expensive price. That is normally the case, where 100% grass-fed quality beef is not cheap. Nevertheless, we recommend this jerky as a good buy considering it tastes great, and uses excellent ingredients.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable bag has everything imprinted on both the front and back. No labels are affixed to this bag. On the front, the background is a picture of a mountain, looking all primal.
The New Primal logo is interesting. It sort of looks like an owl with wings. Their slogan appears to be “For the Modern Hunter Gatherer”. There are many facts stated such as “Gluten Free”, “Beef Raised Without Added Hormones”, “Beef Raised Without Antibiotics”, “No Artificial Ingredients or Preservatives”, “Contains Soy”, “Smoke Flavor Added”, and “Made in the USA”.
All major bag categories are covered. The only thing missing is a blurb about The New Primal, their jerky, or about the spicy flavor.
Leave a Comment