Sierra Madre Provisions are located in Sierra Madre, California, which is in the foothill of the San Gabriel Mountains. They have been in business for over 30 years selling wholesale and retail, using ranch raised cattle. Their meat is hand sliced, and as of today, Sierra Madre Provision Co. sells 18 different flavors of jerky. The Sierra Madre Provision Co. jerky brand name is distributed and manufactured by Sierra Madre Provisions.
The next review on Sierra Madre Provision Co. will focus on a 3.25 ounce/92 gram bag of their hot beef jerky flavor. This flavor is described as having a teriyaki marinade and crushed red hot peppers. The jerky was graciously submitted by the creator of this Sierra Madre Provision Co. jerky brand, James Schaft (a.k.a. – Jimmy the Jerky Man).
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Sodium Benzoate), Crushed Red Chili, Corn Syrup Solids, Honey, Worcestershire Sauce (Water, Distilled Vinegar, Soy Sauce [Molasses, Caramel Color, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein Extract, Salt], Corn Syrup, High Fructose Corn Syrup Solids, Salt, Citric Acid, Sugar, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor), Vinegar, Black Pepper, Lemon Juice, Liquid Smoke, Granulated Garlic, White Pepper, Onion Powder, Cure Mix (Salt, Sodium Nitrite). Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
Sierra Madre Provision Co. uses ranch raised beef, which means the cattle have free range access to graze on grass. The cattle are also ethically raised, meaning that the cows received no growth hormones or additional antibiotics. As a result, the ingredient rating starts a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade used here contains an average brand of soy sauce, a fair brand of Worcestershire sauce, healthy vinegar, liquid smoke, and healthy lemon juice. Unfortunately, the Worcestershire sauce uses the highly processed unhealthy sweetener high fructose corn syrup solids to lose a rating.
The spiciness in this hot flavor comes from the crushed red chili peppers. Hot peppers are healthy if eaten in moderation, which flush toxins out of the body.
There is no nutrition facts table provided. As a result, the exact sugar and salt levels are unknown.
This jerky does not qualify to be sodium nitrite free, as sodium nitrite is used outright as a preservative to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added, because the highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used in the Worcestershire sauce to lose another rating.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of jerky are for the most part sliced quite large, and sliced to a medium thickness. The texture is somewhat soft and tender, which requires a fair amount of effort to chew, where my jaws were beginning to ache. Handling these strips leaves a slightly oily residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a great ratio of Worcestershire sauce and soy sauce that resembles the taste of pineapple juice. Other tastes that start to take notice are a moderately strong level of saltiness, and light levels of garlic, black pepper, and lemon. Rounding off this flavor is a mild tanginess from the vinegar.
The spiciness becomes apparent fairly quickly, and slowly builds as you consume more strips. The crushed red chili peppers immediately burns your tongue, and there is no afterburn with this heat. On a heat scale, it would rate a 2 out of 5.
A great sweetness is present, but not a sugary type of sweetness. Rather the sweetness that comes from the honey, and it is that which what gives these strips the slight oiliness. In the background there is a subtle smoked flavor.
Paul was rather impressed with this flavor except for the heat level: “The first flavors I encounter are the salt, black pepper, sweet, and an unmistakable vinegary flavor. The heat is starting to come through, but not at a crisp level. Mild to medium is how I would describe it. Quite tasty actually, but not exactly what I would term as ‘hot’. Overall, a very favorable flavor, as Sierra Madre Provision Co. typically does, but I will have to deduct one rating for not being quite hot enough. A 9/10 gentlemen.
It is arguable whether or not the heat level is hot enough. This hot flavor reminds you of eating homemade jerky. We surely recommend this hot flavor to fans of hot based flavors, which does not go overboard in delivering the heat.
This 3.25 ounce/92 gram bag sells online for $6.99, which works out to $1.84 an ounce. That rates as a cheap price. Free shipping is offered on orders over $49.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a fairly tall bag. The front is gold colored, and the back is silver colored with nothing on the back. There is a label affixed to the front, plus a separate sticker that states “Hot”. The scenic picture on this bag depicts mountains, including a few California palm trees.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only fact printed on this bag is “Liquid Smoke Flavoring Added”.
There are a few bag categories missing, such as a blurb about Sierra Madre Provision Co. and a nutrition facts table. Kudos to Sierra Madre Provision Co., where they provide a toll free phone number for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.sierramadreprovision.com
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