The next review for Derf Jerky will be on a 2.1 ounce/60 gram bag of their Fumée Framboise (Smoked Raspberry) flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as having a balanced mixture of chipotle with a hint of raspberry jam, and finally sprinkled with sesame seeds. The jerky was kindly submitted for review by one of the owners, Fred Le Tourneux-Gagnon. Cleverly, Derf is Fred’s name spelled backwards.
This Derf Jerky brand name, known as Derf Jerky Charqui Québecois in French, is located in Laval, Quebec, and is distributed under the same name of Derf Jerky. After doing a road trip in the Southwestern USA, Fred got introduced to a bunch of different jerky brands. Fred started making his own homemade jerky, and soon people were starting to make orders for his jerky. In October 2016, along with Fred’s father, mother, and brother, the Derf Jerky brand name was officially launched. Their mission is bringing jerky to Quebec, where jerky is not really popular. Currently, they also sell Cola Poivre (Pepper Cola) and Abeille Dijon (Honey Dijon) beef jerky flavors.
Ingrédient Review
Ingredients: Beouf, whisky, ketchup (tomate, sucre, vinaigre blanc), confiture de framboise avec pectine, sauce soya (blé, fève de soja, benzoate de sodium), worcestershire (vinaigre de malt (orge), vinaigre d’alcool, mélasse, sucre, anchois (poisson), tamarins), poudre d’ail, cassonade, fumée liquide, moustarde (sulphites), sel, chipotle, grains de sésame. Avertissement Allergène: Soya, Blé, Sésame
Ingredients: Beef, Whisky, Ketchup (Tomato, Sugar, White Vinegar), Raspberry Jam with Pectin, Soy Sauce (Wheat, Soy bean, Sodium Benzoate), Worcestershire Sauce (Vinegar (Malt Barley), Vinegar Alcohol, Molasses, Sugar, Anchovies (fish), Tamarins), Garlic Powder, Brown Sugar, Liquid Smoke, Mustard (Sulphites), Salt, Chipotle, Sesame Seeds. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat, Sesame
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 an average soy sauce, a decent brand of ketchup, not so good whisky, and a good Worcestershire sauce. The jerky drying process removes all alcohol from the whisky, and the whisky disinfects the beef during the marinating process.
Some healthy ingredients have been added such as chipotle pepper, mustard, and sesame seeds. Raspberry jam is generally considered to be healthy, but does contain sugar.
For a sweet based flavor as we have here, the sugar level is acceptable at 4.5 grams of sugar per 30 grams of jerky. The salt level is respectable at 271mg of salt per 30 grams of jerky.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservative used is salt, and vinegar to a lesser extent. Commendably, there is no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of jerky are small in size, and they are sliced to a medium or thin thickness. The texture is somewhat dry, and fairly easy to chew. There are some visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
Some of the first flavors that jump out are garlic and the Worcestershire/soy blend. There is a light fruity flavor present, but not necessarily a well-defined raspberry flavor. This flavor has a light level of sweetness, which allows a good deal of natural beef flavor.
In the background, there is a subtle smokiness while chewing. A faint level of sesame slightly enhances the flavor. There is no spiciness detected from the chipotle peppers. Overall, a unique tasting flavor that does not have much natural raspberry flavor, or spiciness from the chipotle.
A 2.1 ounce/60 gram bag sells online for $7.50. That works out to $3.57 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price. This jerky is recommended if you would enjoy a light fruity based jerky flavor.
Bag Review
This non-resealable bag has a label affixed to the both the front and back. Not everything printed on this bag have English translations. This bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep jerky fresh tasting. The logo is based from a tattoo on Fred’s forearm, modified by adding a cow’s skull in the middle.
A slogan printed on this bag is “Charqui Québécois (Quebec Jerky)”. There are no facts printed on this bag.
Another missing bag category is that no allergen alerts are provided. There is a good blurb printed on the bag about this jerky. Facebook and Instagram accounts are indicated.
Order their jerky online: www.derfjerky.com
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