The next review for Shiners Stash will focus on a 3 ounce/84 gram bag of their Cajun Spice flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as just the right blend of spices to make it Cajun, but mild on the heat. The jerky was graciously submitted for review by the owner, chef Swen Altis.
This Shiners Stash brand name is located in the foothills of Conover, North Carolina, and it is distributed under the name of Shiners Stash Jerky Company. Executive Chef Swen, an avid hunter, started making jerky for his friends and neighbors. While having a successful career, in 2016, Swen quit his full-time job, and launched this Shiners Stash Jerky Company. Starting as a cook in the US Army, Swen became a certified chef. Swen’s last job was as an executive chef in the higher education industry. Impressively, there are 27 flavors available, which includes beef/pork jerky and beef sticks. Backed by Swen’s wife Beth, friends, and family, they are committed & continuously strive to set “THAT BAR!”.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef (Eye Round), Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Sodium Benzoate), Brown Sugar, Beef Broth (Cooked Beef, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Dextrose, Sea Salt, Maltodextrin, Onion Powder, Sugar, Caramel Color, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), Cajun Seasoning, Spice, Potassium Sorbate (A Natural Food Preservative). Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat, Peanuts
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the 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 Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of only an average soy sauce. Included is a beef broth ingredient, but there are no liquids listed, which is a beef base.
There are some healthy ingredients used such as garlic powder, onion powder, and spices. Cajun seasoning could be comprised of many things, which would probably include garlic, onion, black pepper, and cayenne pepper.
The sugar level is very respectable at only 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is fairly low at 200mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite, where the similar unhealthy preservative potassium sorbate is used.
This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added. The highly processed flavor enhancers hydrolyzed soy protein and hydrolyzed corn protein are used in the beef broth. Similar to MSG, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate work synergistically to enhance the flavor of food, in this case beef.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of jerky are medium to large in size, and are sliced to a medium thickness. The texture is wonderful, mainly dry, but easy to chew. There are no visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a light level of sweetness. That is quickly followed by light levels of salt, black pepper, and garlic. With not much sweetness, there is a decent amount of natural beef flavor.
Present throughout is the wonderful, distinctive taste of Cajun. The Cajun taste is at a great level, and truly is authentic tasting. Mixed in is a light spiciness that blends in well. On a heat scale, the spiciness would rate 1 out of 5. Overall, this is the best tasting Cajun based flavor that we have reviewed to date, and is highly addictive.
A 3 ounce/85 gram bag sells online for $8.50. That works out to $2.83 an ounce, which rates as a borderline average price, where the upper limit for an average price is $2.85 an ounce. This flavor is absolutely recommended from a taste perspective if you even remotely enjoy the taste of Cajun spice.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear resealable bag has labels affixed to both the front and back. The bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep jerky fresh tasting. The Shiners Stash logo is a man with a rather large, bushy beard.
Their slogans are “Get Your Own!” and “Made in Foothills of NC”. Some facts printed on this bag are “Made in the USA” and “Proud member of got to be NC.com”.
The only minor bag category missing is the jerky weight not stated in grams. There is a very good blurb printed on the back about Shiners Stash. You are encouraged to follow them on Facebook.
Order their jerky online: www.shinersstashjerky.com
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