Country Archer 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”. The Country Archer jerky brand name is distributed under the same name of Country Archer, and they are located in San Bernardino, California.
The next review for Country Archer will be on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their sriracha flavored 100% grass-fed beef jerky. This flavor is described as being infused with that one-of-a-kind Sriracha magic sauce manufactured by Huy Fong Foods. The jerky bag was purchased at a Tops store in Lewiston, New York.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Grass Fed Beef, Huy Fong Sriracha Sauce (Chili Pepper, Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Distilled Vinegar, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Bisilfite, and Xanthan Gum), Gluten Free Tamari Soy Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, May also contain Alcohol and Sugar), Cayenne Pepper, Pineapple Juice. 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. As a result, the ingredient rating starts at Excellent (10/10).
The liquid marinade consists of a decent Huy Fong sriracha sauce, a high quality gluten free tamari soy sauce, and healthy pineapple juice. Apart from using the unhealthy preservative potassium sorbate, Huy Fong sriracha sauce is widely regarded as the best tasting sriracha sauce around with a rooster prominently featured on the Huy Fong sriracha sauce label.
The heat is achieved from the Huy Fong sriracha sauce, and cayenne pepper. Hot peppers are healthy if eaten in moderation, which flush toxins out of the body.
The sugar level is high at 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. For a spicy based flavor as we have here, our preference is 4 grams of sugar or less. The salt level is reasonable at 310mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite. Instead, salt is the main preservative added. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of beef are a mixture of small and medium in size. The thickness of these strips varies between medium and thin. This texture is also inconsistent, with some strips being dry, and other strips being closer to soft and tender. The aroma is pleasing with wafts of soy and a light sriracha sauce.
The first flavors detected are salt, sweetness, soy, light garlic, and an authentic tasting sriracha sauce. As you consume more strips, the spiciness from the sriracha sauce and cayenne pepper increases gradually. In the end, the heat levels off at a 2 out of 4 on the heat scale, perhaps higher, which may be too spicy tasting for some people.
The sweetness level is arguably at too high of a level, and does mask some of the spiciness to a certain degree. With the moderately strong level of sugar, the natural beef flavor is muted somewhat.
We were all unanimous in our taste rating here, and with complaints about the jerky texture inconsistencies. All three of us are huge fans of Huy Fong sriracha sauce to begin with. Overall, while this Country Archer Sriracha 100% grass-fed beef jerky is an enjoyable flavor, the spiciness could arguably be toned down a bit with the cayenne pepper, and the sweetness decreased.
As remarked by Paul, “There is a bit of inconsistency with the texture. Some of the pieces are drier than the others, in the sense that some of the pieces have that ‘throw back dryness and hardness to the texture, while some others are softer and chewier. Still, a very tasty flavor of jerky.”
As mentioned by Stéphane, “I really wanted to like this Country Archer Sriracha Beef Jerky. Alas! I am a bit disappointed, as I had high expectations. The Sriracha is usually one of my favorite flavors and it appears to be somewhat challenging to deliver a true tasting Sriracha flavor. This jerky is too sweet and a little too spicy to truly represent a Sriracha and especially the Huy Fong Brand which happens to be my favorite Sriracha sauce by far. The Cayenne pepper overwhelms the flavor of the Sriracha sauce. Overall, it is an OK jerky but I am simply not enchanted with it. I rate this jerky 8/10.”
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag cost $6.99, which works out to $2.33 an ounce. That rates as a borderline 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. Artistically the front of this bag displays a high resolution picture of a Sriracha hot sauce bottle spelling the jerky flavor name Sriracha in a ‘Sriracha Font’.
Some slogans printed on this bag are “Crafted From The Finest Premium Beef” and “As Gourmet As Jerky Gets”.
There are multiple facts displayed such as “Good Source of Protein”, “Low in Fat”, “No Nitrites/Nitrates”, “No MSG”, “Grass Fed Beef Used”, “Made in U.S.A.”, “Gluten Free”. A promise is displayed giving a guarantee that only wholesome ingredients are used, and the best customer service available. With some cleverness, it is stated that “Usually consumed within 10 Minutes. If not, consume within 3 Days of opening”.
Every bag category is covered with this bag. A great blurb is printed on the back describing this sriracha 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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