The first review for Country Archer will be on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their Sweet Jalapeno flavored 100% grass-fed beef jerky. The bag was purchased at a Fairway store in Woodland Park, New Jersey.
The Country Archer jerky brand name is distributed under the same name of Country Archer. They are located in San Bernardino, California, and were founded in 1977 by a butcher named Celestino Mirarchi. The current owners, Eugene and Susan Kang, discovered this jerky on a road trip to the Grand Canyon. They were so impressed with the jerky, that the trio became partners. Today, Country Archer’s line of healthy jerky and meat snacks are sold nationwide. A focus is put on “Food for Doers – Made By Doers”.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Grass Fed Beef, Organic Brown Sugar (Organic Sugar, Organic Molasses), Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, May also contain Alcohol and Sugar), Organic Seasoned Rice Vinegar Dressing (Organic Rice Vinegar, Organic Sugar, Water, Salt), Pineapple Juice, Garlic, Red Chili Pepper, Black Pepper, Jalapeno Powder, Ginger. Allergen Warnings: Soy
100% grass-fed beef is used here, just the way nature intended. These cattle are raised ethically, meaning they are not fed growth hormones, or additional antibiotics. There is also some free range access for the cattle to roam about.
The liquid marinade consists of a high quality gluten free tamari soy sauce, an organic seasoned rice vinegar dressing, and healthy pineapple juice. Pineapples contain an enzyme named bromelain, which is used as a natural meat tenderizer in the food industry.
Some healthy ingredients added are garlic and black pepper. The heat is achieved from using red chili pepper and jalapeno powder. Hot peppers are healthy if eaten in moderation.
The sugar level is high at 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. For a sweet based flavor as we have here, our preference is 5 grams of sugar or less. In fairness, organic sugar is used. The salt level is 360mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky, which is slightly above our preference of 350mg of salt.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite. Instead, salt is the main preservative used. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of jerky are mostly small in size, and sliced to a medium thickness. The texture is somewhat dry, and reasonably easy to chew. There are no signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
A fine blend of spices is noticed first, where no single flavor jumps out. The tamari soy sauce blends in nicely, as does the rice vinegar and pineapple juice at light levels. The spiciness slowly builds. On a heat scale, the spiciness would rate about a 2 out of 5. However, there is little to none of the unmistakable jalapeno flavor present.
The sweetness tends to slightly dominate after a while, which is a little too sweet tasting for our liking. As a result, the sweetness also mutes a fair amount of the natural beef flavor. Light levels of black pepper and garlic are always appreciated. Overall, while this flavor is addictive, the sweetness is a bit too overpowering.
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag cost $6.29, which works out to $2.10 an ounce. That rates as an average price. Considering that 100% grass-fed beef is used, this is a cheap price. This sweet & spicy based flavor of jerky is recommended as worth your money.
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both on the front and back. A silhouette of an Indian chief is in the middle of this Country Archer logo.
Some slogans on this bag are “The Best Kept Secret in Jerky, Until Now” and “As Gourmet as Jerky Gets”.
Some facts printed on this bag are “Good Source of Protein”, “Low in Fat”, “All Natural”, “Made in U.S.A.”, “Grass Fed Beef Used”, “No Preservatives Added”, “No Nitrites/Nitrates”, “No MSG”, and “Crafted From The Finest Premium Beef”. A promise is given that Country Archer stands behind every product that they make. With some cleverness, it is stated that “Usually consumed within 10 Minutes. If not, consume within 3 Day of opening”.
All bag categories are covered with this bag. A great blurb is printed on the back about Country Archer and this sweet jalapeno flavor. You are encouraged to follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Commendably, a phone number and email address are provided for customer inquiries.
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