Note: For a recent, live taste review, open KRAVE Jerky – Grilled Sweet Teriyaki (Recipe #2).
The next review for KRAVE Jerky will be on a 3.5 ounce/99 gram bag of their smoky grilled teriyaki flavor. This bag was purchased at a convenience store while visiting San Diego, California, back in 2011.
The KRAVE Jerky brand name is distributed by Krave Pure Foods, Inc., located in Sonoma, California. The company was envisioned by Jon Sebastian in 2009, while training for the NYC marathon. Their jerky is advertised to be entirely gluten-free, and devoid of nitrites, MSG, and corn syrup.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Pork, Sugar, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Sorbitol, Fructose, Soybean Oil, Salt, Michiu Wine, Spices, contains less than 1% of the following: Sodium Nitrite Cure, Sodium Erythorbate, Disodium Inosinate & Disodium Guanylate, BHT added to preserve flavor Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The pork used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the pork is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam about. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade consists of a mediocre brand of soy sauce, soybean oil, and michiu wine. For a teriyaki based flavor, using michiu wine is an interesting choice, which is a rice wine.
It is unusual to see the antioxidant BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) as a listed ingredient. It’s main purpose is to keep food fresh, and prevent rancidity. There is much controversy if this is a dangerous product. As a general rule, try to minimize how much BHT you consume.
The sugar level is high at 8 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. A teriyaki flavor by definition should be sweet tasting, but the preference would be 5 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is very acceptable at 180mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
The double whammy of unhealthy sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate are the main preservatives used. This jerky does not qualify to be MSG free, because the flavor enhancers disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate are used. Both are not considered to be healthy.
Fair (4/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Note: For a recent, live taste review, open KRAVE Jerky – Grilled Sweet Teriyaki (Recipe #2).
Unfortunately, back in 2011 I kept scant taste notes. It does indicate that this flavor was very bold tasting, which would normally mean it was a good tasting jerky.
This 3.50 ounce/99 gram bag was purchased for $6.39, which equates to $1.83 an ounce. That rates as an average price. We would not have recommended this jerky as worth your money considering an unhealthy ingredient list was used. Today, all of the bad ingredients have been removed.
Bag Review
This is a standard resealable plastic bag, with a label affixed on both the back and front. The KRAVE Jerky logo is of a person running.
Their slogan is “More. Eat. Live. Krave.” There are other facts printed on this bag such as “Good Source of Protein”, “Low Fat”, “Product of USA”, and “BHT Added to Preserve Flavor”.
All of the bag categories are covered here with this bag. There is a decent blurb printed on the back of this bag describing KRAVE Jerky.
Order their jerky online: www.kravejerky.com
Leave a Comment