The next review for Tahoe Tony’s Jammin’ Jerky will be on a 2 ounce/56 gram bag of their teriyaki pineapple flavored 100% grass-fed beef jerky. This flavor is described as being sweet with pineapples. thick cut, and using top round beef. The bag was graciously submitted for review by the owner and CFO Brooke Luckey, who is married to the founder Tony Pearl.
This Tahoe Tony’s Jammin’ Jerky brand is distributed under the name of Tahoe Tony’s. They are located in Minden, Nevada, and this brand of jerky was launched in 2012. Tony literally hand slices all of the jerky in 100 pound batches. The jerky is hand seasoned, and each bag is hand packaged by Tony himself, who takes pride in that his jerky is not machine perfect. They also take custom orders for game meats, all USDA and FDA inspected. Interestingly, you can also watch the jerky being prepared live on their gallery page.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Crushed Pineapple (Pineapple, Pineapple Juice), Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Wine, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative)), Pineapple Juice (Water, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Ascorbic Acid), Marinade (Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Sugar, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Mirin Flavor (Water, Dextrose, Mirin (Rice, Alcohol, Enzymes, Salt), Lactic Acid, Succinic Acid), Water, Dehydrated Garlic, Spices, Modified Corn Syrup, Sunflower Oil), Brown Sugar, Citric Acid (Preservative), sprayed with Potassium Sorbate to retard mold growth, Soy Lechtin. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
This dry aged beef is sourced from the highly respected company Bently Ranch. Cattle have complete free range access to graze on grass, and roam about. They are ethically raised, being 100% certified hormone free beef. Being in a natural habitat, the cattle are 100% grass-fed.
The liquid marinade is comprised of a not so good teriyaki sauce, healthy pineapple juice, the Japanese cooking wine mirin, a decent soy sauce twice, sunflower oil, and pineapple juice twice. It is disappointing to see that the highly refined sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) is used in both the marinade and Teriyaki sauce.
The crushed pineapples have an enzyme named bromelain, which acts as a natural meat tenderizer in the food industry.
For a sweet based flavor such as teriyaki, the sugar level is respectable at 3 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is decent at 250mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
While potassium sorbate is a listed ingredient, it is only there because the USDA requires to spray the jerky, as per their rules and regulations. As a result, this jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite added, or any other similar preservatives. Instead, salt and citric acid are the primary preservatives used. Admirably, this flavor does qualify to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These jerky strips are medium in size, and are sliced medium to thick. The texture barely qualifies to have a soft and tender texture, which results in jerky strips that are easy to chew. There are some visible signs of fat, which add to the overall natural beef flavor. Handling this jerky does leaves a bit of oily residue on your fingers.
The most dominating taste at first is the natural beef flavor. There is a light level of garlic, as is the saltiness. The pineapple flavor is at a consistent mild level. A teriyaki flavor by nature should be sweet tasting, and there is a mild level of sweetness that does not go overboard.
The teriyaki flavor itself is fairly mild tasting. There is a mild level of soy, and a light level of the mirin wine. Words to describe this flavor are flavorful, tasty, addictive, juicy, and pleasant, not being overly strong tasting.
This 2 ounce/56 gram bag sells for $5.00. That works out to $2.50 an ounce, which rates as a slightly expensive price. In terms of 100% grass-fed beef, it is more of an average to decent price. This jerky is recommended to people seeking 100% grass-fed beef with a mild to light teriyaki flavor.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is no doubt an interesting bag design. The bag has everything imprinted directly on the bag itself, including the front and back, with no labels affixed. The logo is interesting, which is a drawing of Tony.
Surprisingly, the slogan “May the jerk be with you” is not printed on the bag. Some facts printed on this bag are “Made With Bently Ranch Meats”, “Product of USA”, and “13g of Protein per Serving”.
All bag categories are covered here except there is no best before date printed. A batch number is printed, which could translate to a best before date. There is a very personal blurb printed about this flavor, and Tahoe Tony’s Jammin’ Jerky. A satisfaction guaranteed policy is offered. To the credit of Tahoe Tony’s Jammin’ Jerky, a toll free number is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.tahoetonys.com
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