The next review on Smokehouse Jerky Co. will focus on a 2 ounce/56 gram bag of their Peppered Applewood Style bacon jerky flavor. This jerky was graciously submitted for review by the owner, Trent Levinson.
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. They sell many different flavors of beef jerky, two flavors of bacon jerky, and now elk, buffalo, and venison jerky. All of their jerky is made in small batches. Tender Heifer Snack Co. are always looking for new distributors across the United States, and offer private label services
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Bacon (Water, Salt, Sugar, Smoke Flavoring, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Flavoring, Sodium Nitrate), White Sugar, Apple Juice, Honey, Applewood Liquid Smoke, Black Pepper.
This is a standard ingredient list for bacon. While not good, it contains sodium phosphate, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrate as preservatives.
The marinade consists of water, apple juice, and applewood liquid smoke. While not bad, juices are generally overrated on how healthy they are. Applewood liquid smoke is an interesting, and unusual choice. As with all types of liquid smoke, the quality of how it’s made can vary greatly.
The quality of honey can vary widely, where most big commercial brand names barely even resemble honey with so much pollen content removed. Local honey is preferred. Some people call black pepper the king of spices, where we may agree.
The sugar level is on the high side with 8 grams of sugar used per 28 grams of jerky. For a sweet based flavor such as peppered applewood style, the preference is 5 grams of sugar or under. The salt level is fairly high at 510mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. As a general rule, the salt level of bacon jerky is usually almost twice that of beef jerky.
There are no added preservatives, but the bacon contains plenty of sodium based preservatives. Admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Fair (4/10) – Ingredients Rating
Taste Review
These for the most part are regular sized strips of bacon. There is a fair amount of fat visible. The texture is just borderline crispy depending on each strip. Handling this jerky does leave an oily residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a fairly strong sweetness, with a light taste of honey. Then the taste of apple begins to take notice, and stays at a mild level. It’s an interesting apple flavor, with a mild smoked taste mixed in.
For a black pepper based flavor, the peppered level is light, where you would expect more. With the sweetness level being so high, it takes away a great deal of the natural bacon flavor.
This 2 ounce/56 gram bag of jerky sells online for $8.00. That works out to $4.00 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price. As a general rule, bacon jerky is more expensive than beef jerky. For the time being, free shipping is offered. While bacon is not considered to be healthy, this is a great product to indulge in occasionally if you enjoy a sweet tasting bacon jerky.
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. There is also a picture of a pig with smoke behind it.
There are no clear defined slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed on this bags are “Old Fashion Recipe”, “No Added MSG”, “Made in U.S.A.”, “Old Fashion”, and “Natural Smoke Flavoring Added”.
The major bag categories are covered here. 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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