The first review for Ayoba-Yo will focus on a 4 ounce/113 gram bag of their traditional flavored beef biltong. It is advertised to use an authentic South African recipe, proudly made in the USA. Ayoba-Yo is an informal term that translates to express amazement, agreement, and approval. This bag was kindly submitted for review by Wian van Blommestein, a member of the van Blommestein family who owns this brand.
This Ayoba-Yo brand is distributed under the same name of Ayoba-Yo, and based out of Oakton, Virginia. Wian’s family moved to the USA from South Africa about 15 years ago, where they missed foods from South Africa. A few years later, they launched Ayoba-Yo. Their biltong is air dried for over 14 days. Being air dried, the enzymes are still intact, making it a healthier product than jerky. The recipe uses minimal ingredients, with no artificial ingredients or preservatives, making it all natural, and having an authentic taste.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Salt, Coriander, Worcestershire Powder (Salt, Sugar, Tomato, Vinegar, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Citric Acid, Garlic, Onion), Pepper, Brown Sugar, Vinegar.
The beef used is ethically raised, meaning guaranteed to be free of growth hormones. This beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating. However, there is also a 100% grass-fed line of products available.
This liquid marinade is just healthy vinegar. The Worcestershire sauce is in powder form, because they wanted to use a sauce that was absent of the allergen anchovies.
The healthy herb coriander is used. Other healthy ingredients used are black pepper, garlic, and onion.
The sugar level is excellent, having 0 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is quite high at 570mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. However, that is negated because healthy sea salt is used, which is high on minerals and trace minerals.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite used as a preservative. Instead, sea salt is the main preservative, and vinegar to a lesser extent. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These pieces of biltong are small in size, and sliced thin. The texture is borderline soft and tender, which are easy to chew. There are visible signs of fat that enhance the overall natural beef flavor. Handling this biltong leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a mild to moderate level of tangy vinegar. A great mild level of coriander compliments the overall flavor. The salt level is mild, and there is a light peppered level. All along there is a good level of natural beef flavor.
In an unusual twist, there is a mild level of Worcestershire sauce flavor. At very light levels are onion and garlic. The sweetness is at a light level also. Overall, this flavor does manage to capture an authentic tasting South African biltong recipe. It’s a very addictive product, where the bag is empty in no time.
A 4 ounce/113 gram bag sells online for $8.99. That works out to $2.25 an ounce, which rates as an average price. This flavor is wholeheartedly recommended from taste, ingredient, and price perspectives. Every fan of beef should experience the pleasure of trying biltong.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear, resealable bag has a label affixed to both the front and back. Their logo is the words Ayoba-Yo, and described as using a paper bag type of font.
There is no slogan displayed. Many facts are printed on the bag such as “Authentic South African Recipe Proudly Made in the USA”, “All Natural*”, “*Minimally Processed”, “*No Artificial Ingredients”, “13g Protein Per Serving”, “80 Calories Per Serving”, “Gluten-Free”, “No MSG”, “No Nitrates”, “No Preservatives”, and “No Artificial Flavorings”.
All bag categories are covered with this bag. Their Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram handles are provided.
Order their jerky online: www.ayoba-yo.com
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