Note: For a more current taste review on a tweaked bag design and ingredient list, open up Smokehouse Jerky Co. – Smoky Bar-B Beef Jerky (Recipe #2).
The next review on Smokehouse Jerky Co. will focus on a 3 ounce/84 gram bag of their Smoky Bar-B beef jerky flavor. This jerky was kindly submitted for review by the owner, Trent Levinson, from Tender Heifer Snack Co. This Smoky Bar-B flavor name is a play on words. Trent’s wife’s name is Barbie Levinson, whom helps out with the jerky business.
This jerky is manufactured and distributed by Tender Heifer Snack Co., and based out of Beaumont, California. The Smokehouse Jerky Co. brand name was launched in 2008. All of their beef jerky is made using the brisket cut of beef. Tender Heifer Snack Co. strongly believes that brisket is the best cut of beef to use because it absorbs the marinade best. Their jerky is made in small batches to ensure freshness.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Tomato Juice, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Natural Smoke Flavor (Water, Natural Hickory Smoke Concentrate), Water, Brown Sugar, Vinegar, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Spices, Onion, Garlic. Allergen Warnings: 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.
We have a very interesting liquid marinade here consisting of tomato juice, soy sauce, natural smoke flavor, vinegar, and extra virgin olive oil. Tomatoes are very healthy, and they offer many health benefits. Extra virgin olive oil can be very healthy also, albeit the quality can vary from brand to brand.
Super healthy garlic and onion are used.
The sugar level is very low at only 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is also quite low, at 85mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
As advertised, there are no unhealthy preservatives used, where this jerky is confirmed as having no sodium nitrite. Also as advertised, admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
The strips of jerky are medium to small in size, and sliced to a medium thickness. This dry texture is very appealing, where the brisket cut of meat is relatively easy to chew. There are barely any visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves very little residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected almost instantly is a fairly strong tomato taste from the tomato juice. While not as much, another dominant flavor is the smoked taste. This flavor advertised as Smoky Bar-B delivers on both counts.
There is a minor sweet taste, and the salt level is only mild. The soy taste is moderate, and the excellent taste combination of garlic and onion are faint. Overall, one of the best barbecue based flavors that we have reviewed here to date.
This 3 ounce/84 gram bag of jerky sells online for $6.00. That works out to $2.00 an ounce, which rates as an average price. This jerky is certainly recommended as worth your money.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a standard resealable plastic bag, with a label affixed on the front, and nothing on the back. The label has a fairly detailed picture that looks like a wooden shack with a “Jerky Co.” sign, and trees in a dark background. While not printed on this jerky bag, one of the Smokehouse Jerky Co. slogans is “From The Hicks In The Sticks”.
Facts printed on this bag are “Old Fashion Recipe”, “No Added MSG”, “No Added Preservatives”, “Made in U.S.A.”, “Old Fashion”, “Natural Smoke Flavoring Added”, and “Brisket”.
Almost all bag categories are covered. There is no blurb printed about Smokehouse Jerky Co. or Tender Heifer Snack Co., but there is no available space.
Order their jerky online: www.tenderheifersnackco.com
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