Note: For a recent, live taste review, open KRAVE Jerky – Chili Lime Beef Jerky (Recipe #2).
The next review for KRAVE Jerky will be on a 3.5 ounce/99 gram bag of their chili lime 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. Today, their jerky is advertised to be entirely gluten-free, and devoid of nitrites, MSG, and corn syrup.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Wheat, Salt), Corn Syrup, Salt, Chili Garlic Sauce (Chili, Garlic, Vinegar, Sugar and Salt), Chili Lime Seasoning (Modified Corn Starch, Maltodextrin, Sugar, Spices, Salt, Corn Syrup Solids, Citric Acid, Onion, Garlic, Paprika, Natural Flavors, Extractives of Paprika, Lime Oil, Silicon Dioxide), Sugar, Lemon Juice, Soybean Oil, Salt, Crushed Red Chili Pepper, Potato Starch, Natural Lemon Emulsion (Water, Lemon Oil, Vegetable Gum, Citric Acid, Sodium Benzoate as preservative and Natural Flavors), Citric Acid, Paprika, Sodium Nitrite Cure, Sodium Erythorbate, Yellow #5, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Red #40, BHT added to preserve flavor Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The liquid marinade consists of a mediocre brand of soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, soybean oil, and healthy lemon juice. This chili garlic sauce ingredient list is small, but good to see that fresh chiles and garlic was used.
Some of the good ingredients used were onion, paprika, extractives of paprika, crushed red chili pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. It is never good to see corn based ingredients used such as corn syrup solids and modified corn starch.
It is unusual to see the antioxidant BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene) as a listed ingredient. Its 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.
It is disappointing that the artificial colors yellow #5 and red #40 were used here. Artificial based colors are notorious for being unhealthy.
The sugar level was very respectable at only 2 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level was decent at 290mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
The double whammy of unhealthy sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate were the main preservatives used, apart from salt. This jerky did qualify to have no MSG added.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Note: For a recent, live taste review, open KRAVE Jerky – Chili Lime Beef Jerky (Recipe #2).
Unfortunately, back in 2011 I did not keep detailed taste notes. The notes do 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, the ingredient list has changed considerably.
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”, “Binders Added”, “Artificially Colored”, and “BHT Added to Preserve Flavor”.
All of the bag categories are covered here with this bag. There is a decent small blurb printed on the back of this bag describing KRAVE Jerky.
Order their jerky online: www.kravejerky.com
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