The next review for House of Jerky will be on a 1.75 ounce/50 gram bag of their original flavored snapping turtle jerky. This bag was kindly submitted for review by Lesley Wilzbacher from House of Jerky.
This House of Jerky brand is distributed by House of Jerky Inc., based out of Evansville, Indiana. It all started in 1993, selling their jerky on the side of the road. In 1996, they had an idea to sell their jerky inside a store. Before the year ended, they opened a jerky store in Temecula, California, which still holds the distinction of being the very first jerky store in the world. Currently there are around 25 House of Jerky stores. House of Jerky always welcome new store openings across the United States.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Snapping Turtle, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce [Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt], Wine, Sugar, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder), Brown Sugar, Spices, Onion Garlic, Liquid Smoke, Sodium Nitrite. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The snapping turtles are farm raised in Louisiana. Turtle meat is considered to be a good type of protein. Also, a good source of vitamins and minerals, especially calcium. As it’s hard to prove the health benefits of turtle, the highest ingredient rating awarded can be Very Good (9/10).
The liquid marinade is comprised of just a decent teriyaki sauce and liquid smoke, where a large part of that is soy sauce.
There are healthy ingredients used such as black pepper, fresh garlic, and spices.
There is no nutrition facts table available. As a result, the exact sugar and salt levels are unknown. Based on the taste alone, the salt level is normal, and there is more than likely more than 3 grams of sugar used per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite used as a preservatives. In fairness, only the House of Jerky exotic jerky lines use sodium nitrite, where sales are more unpredictable. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These jerky strips are mainly small in size, and are sliced to a medium, almost thin thickness. The texture is not all that dry, but you could say it is chewy. There are no visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves very little oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavor detected is the teriyaki. Then a good light combination of garlic/onion starts to set in. The saltiness is mild, and the peppered flavor is light. There is certainly a sweetness to this flavor, a little too high for our preference.
As for the snapping turtle flavor, you could say that it has a light gamey taste. It’s the texture that sets it apart. Although not hard to chew, it is somewhat similar to the cartilage in chicken bones, but much softer. Unlike beef jerky, which has a tendency to melt in your mouth, the turtle takes longer to break down. Overall, an interesting and enjoyable experience.
A 1.75 ounce/50 gram bag sells for $18.99, with free shipping. That works out to $10.85 an ounce, which may rate as an expensive price. While not cheap, as is the case with exotic jerky, this is a great place to start if you want to experience eating turtle.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a somewhat large, clear, resealable sized plastic bag. Worth noting is that this bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep jerky fresh. There is one label affixed to the front, and nothing on the back. The House of Jerky logo is of a man tapping a triangle, signaling that it is time to eat.
There are no slogans or facts printed on this bag.
There are some bag categories missing such as a nutrition facts table, a bar code, a USDA inspected stamp, best before date, and a blurb about this jerky and flavor. There is a batch number on the back, which could translate to a best before date. To the credit of House of Jerky, a toll free phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.houseofjerky.net
Really tastes awesome.
Kinda reminds me of quail.