The next review on Van Cleave Dry Goods (aka VC Dry Goods) will be on a 3.05 ounce/86.4 gram bag of their Type-X flavored beef jerky. The Type-X flavor is described to have generous amounts of fresh ginger and garlic, along with spicy cayenne pepper. This flavor was graciously submitted for review by the owner, Adam Van Cleave.
The Van Cleave Dry Goods jerky brand name is based out of Frisco, Texas. Their jerky is distributed under the name of Van Cleave Dry Goods LLC., also located in Frisco, Texas. This Van Cleave Dry Goods jerky brand name was launched in October 2014. Their jerky is made in small batches that is marinated for over 12 hours. This jerky is also advertised to use only the highest quality ingredients.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Tamri (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Wheat, Alcohol, Glucose), Worcestershire Sauce (Distilled White Vinegar, Molasses, Sugar, Water, Salt, Onions, Anchovies, Garlic, Cloves, Tamarind Extract, Natural Flavorings, Chili Pepper Extract), Spices, Tomato Sauce (Tomato Puree (Water, Tomato Paste), Water, Salt, Less than 2% of: Dextrose, Tomato Fiber, Citric Acid, Spice, Natural Flavors), Water, Garlic, Smoked Sea Salt. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat, Anchovies
100% Certified American-raised Angus beef is used in this jerky. It has been confirmed that the cattle have quite a bit of free range access to graze on grass, and roam about. The cattle used are ethically raised, meaning there are no growth hormones given, and no antibiotics administered.
The liquid marinade is comprised of tamri soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, tomato sauce, and water. All three of these sauces use relatively healthy ingredients.
Some people consider ginger and garlic to be in the superfood group. Cayenne pepper is also very healthy if eaten in moderation. There are also healthy spices used.
While the nutrition facts are not readily available, we are assured that the sugar level is low The taste of this jerky attests to that. Also, the salt level is on the low side.
The only preservative used here is salt. That qualifies this jerky to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. With further kudos to Van Cleave Dry Goods, this jerky qualifies to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These are mostly large strips of beef that are sliced to a medium thickness. This is your classic dry jerky texture that is chewy. There is hardly any fat visible, and handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a surprisingly strong ginger flavor, but not overbearing. Follow that with a decent amount of garlic flavor. There is a great defined soy taste, along with a mild Worcestershire sauce taste. This jerky hardly tastes sweet, which brings out a good deal of natural beef flavor. In the background there is a light smoked taste.
After a while, the heat does start to pick up where you can feel it in your nose. All along, there is a light tomato flavor that seems to help you withstand the heat. You could say the heat level is about a 2 out of 4, give or take depending on your tolerance of spice.
This 3.05 ounce/86.4 gram bag sells online for $8.00. That equates to $2.62 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price. For anybody who enjoys the taste of ginger with a kick, this Type-X flavor is on the must try list.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag is a bit narrower than most, where the contents appear quite full. There are professional labels affixed to both the front and back of this bag.
The Van Cleave Dry Goods logo is the initials ‘V.C.’ in what may be conceived as a wagon wheel. Their slogan is “Superior Quality. Superior Flavor”. There are several facts printed on this bag such as “No Nitrites”, “High Protein”, “Made in the USA”, and “Genuine Craft Jerky”.
There are some missing bag categories such as no nutrition facts table, no bar code, no hole at the top of the bag to hang on hooks, a missing soy allergen alert, and no USDA inspected stamp. In fairness, these are not requirements for Van Cleave Dry Goods. At this time, they do not sell wholesale yet.
The back of the bag has two world class blurbs about Van Cleave Dry Goods, and this Type-X flavor. Also, to their credit, an email address is provided for customer inquiries or feedback, which is actually encouraged.
Order their jerky online: www.vcdrygoods.com
Leave a Comment