The next review on Fusion Jerky will be on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their chili basil flavored turkey jerky. This bag was graciously submitted for review by the Fusion Jerky team.
The company president, KaiYen Mai, a mother of two and avid outdoorswoman, first had the idea of creating Fusion Jerky while climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro. Mixing both East and West traditions, Fusion Jerky is a combination of Asian-style jerky tenderness, and American-style flavors. They are based of out of South San Francisco, California, and were launched in August 2014. This jerky is manufactured by FusionRanch Inc. at a USDA compliant, state-of-the-art “Fusion Ranch” located in Scottsbluff, Nebraska.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Turkey Breast, Sugar, Gluten-Free Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Sugar), Water, Spices, Salt, Chili Pepper, Celery Powder, Dehydrated Onion, Dehydrated Garlic. Allergen Warnings: Soy
As a general rule, turkey is considered to be a healthier choice compared to beef, because of the low fat content. The turkey used received no growth hormones, or additional antibiotics. That qualifies this jerky to be ethically raised.
The liquid marinade consists of gluten-free soy sauce, and water. As soy sauces go, this one uses a reasonably healthy ingredient list.
The only listed hot based ingredient is chili pepper. As a general rule, hot peppers are healthy if eaten in moderation. Curiously, basil is not a listed ingredient, but could be hidden in the broad term spices. Dehydrated onion and dehydrated garlic are also healthy.
The sugar level is somewhat high at 5 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. We would rather not see the sugar level exceed 4 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky, and preferably 3 grams or under. The salt level is on the high side at 390mg of salt per 28 grams of sugar. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less.
Apart from salt, interestingly, celery powder is used to preserve this jerky. Celery powder has naturally occurring nitrates. That qualifies this jerky to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of turkey are medium to small in size, and sliced to a medium thickness. There is a fairly dry texture, but it is still relatively easy to chew. There are no visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a moderate sweetness. Then the natural turkey flavor starts to set in. That is quickly followed by the taste of basil. There is also a pleasant faint blend of garlic and onion. The soy taste is mild, and the salt is at a moderate level.
Being a chili basil flavor, you would expect some spiciness. It takes a while for the heat to kick in. At best, the spiciness never exceeds a mild level. Overall, this is a tasty treat.
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag sells online for $6.99. That works out to $2.33 an ounce, which rates as a borderline average price. They offer a very respectable flat shipping rate of $5.70 for most of the U.S.A. We recommend this jerky to people who enjoy turkey jerky to begin with, and the taste of basil, with a light spiciness.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a standard sized resealable bag. In a clever way, the transparent window to view the jerky is shaped as a turkey. The front has a hot pepper near some basil leaves.
This bag has no clearly defined slogans. There are a number of facts stated on the bag. Facts such as “Artisan Turkey Jerky”, “99% Fat Free”, “All Natural”, “High Protein”, “No Preservatives”, “Gluten-Free”, “Made in USA”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, “Minimally Processed”, “No MSG”, “10 Grams Protein Per Serving”, and “No Nitrates”.
The only bag category missing is that there is no soy allergen alert displayed. There is a small, but good blurb printed on the back about Fusion Jerky. Printed on the back, on the turkey, are their handle and hashtag @fusionjerky #fuseyourlife.
Order their jerky online: www.fusionjerky.com
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