The next review for Country Archer will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their teriyaki flavored 100% grass-fed beef jerky. This flavor is advertised as having a teriyaki marinade that tastes so authentic, you might think it’s made in Japan. The bag was purchased at a T.J. Maxx store in Lyndhurst, 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), Water, Pineapple Juice, Garlic, Organic Worcestershire (Water, Organic Vinegar, Organic Gluten Free Tamari [Water, Organic Soybeans, Salt], Organic Evaporated Cane Syrup, Salt, Organic Spices), Black Pepper, 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, healthy pineapple juice, water, and an organic Worcestershire sauce. Pineapples contain an enzyme named bromelain, which is used as a natural meat tenderizer in the food industry.
Some healthy ingredients added are garlic, ginger, and black pepper.
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. The salt level is reasonable at 280mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
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
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The aroma of Country Archer – Teriyaki 100% Grass Fed Beef Jerky is quite subtle, albeit the sweetness of the sugar and the pineapple juice permeate the air.
The first taste detected is a moderately strong level of sugar. This jerky is quite sweet even for a Teriyaki flavor. There seems to be a fair amount of sugar present where it occasionally gives a slight crunchiness while taking a bite of these strips. This beef jerky does have a caramelized texture similar to a candied beef.
We couldn’t detect the Worcestershire sauce and barely noticed the soy where the pineapple flavor, the ginger and a slight kick of black pepper was lightly noticeable. These flavors however light did blend in nicely although not uniform throughout. Some of these flavors were more accentuated on some pieces and not on others. The saltiness was also inline at a light level with a faint garlic taste at best. The natural beef flavor is barely present, as it was mostly masked by a plentiful amount of sweetness. The rice vinegar is somewhat noticeable and tends to be a common element in many Teriyaki flavoring.
These beef strips are small to medium in size and sliced to a medium thickness. The texture was fairly dry without leaving any oily residue to the touch. However, this jerky does require some effort while chewing where the texture seems to be chewier than the texture of most common beef jerky. It wasn’t rubbery to the touch or in appearance but felt a bit rubbery while chewing.
Overall, this Country Archer – Teriyaki 100% Grass Fed Beef Jerky is quite good and enjoyable. It does require a little creative thinking in order to really pass as a Teriyaki flavor. Although, we did like this flavor, we were not overly blown away by it. It is fairly sweet where it leaves a rolling sweet aftertaste sensation in the mouth. The natural beef flavor is somewhat muted by this sweetness while the other flavors are too subtle to really elevate this jerky.
We are comfortable recommending this flavor to creative Teriyaki fans with a preference for a sweeter jerky as well as fans of candied beef. We’ve rated this jerky an 8/10 taste rating.
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag cost $4.79, which works out to $1.60 an ounce. That rates as a very cheap price, especially considering that 100% grass-fed beef is used.
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”, “Gluten Free”, “Minimally Processed”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, 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 Days of opening”.
All bag categories are covered with this bag. A great blurb is printed on the back about Country Archer and this teriyaki flavor. You are encouraged to follow Country Archer on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Commendably, a phone number and email address are provided for customer inquiries.
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