The Smokehouse Jerky Co. brand name was launched in 2008. On January 2/2017, Franco and his wife Patti Fonseca acquired Smokehouse Jerky Co. from Trent Levinson and his wife Barbie. Franco has since added some new flavors, and they have a new web site design. All Smokehouse Jerky Co. jerky is made in small batches. Tender Heifer Snack Co. are always looking for new distributors across the United States, and they offer private label services, most notably for Knott’s Berry Farm. This jerky is manufactured and distributed by Tender Heifer Snack Co., and they are based out of Beaumont, California.
The next review on Smokehouse Jerky Co. will focus on a 3 ounce/84 gram bag of their “OH” that’s Hot! flavored beef jerky. This will be our second review on this “OH” that’s Hot!” flavor, where the ingredient list and bag design has since been slightly tweaked. The flavor is described as having a sweet, smoky, juicy and spicy taste that is “oh so hot” – its heat kicks in later after your first bite, giving it waves of flavor that will captivate your taste for spicy treats. This jerky was kindly submitted for review by co-owner, Patti Fonseca.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Wine, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder, Sodium Benzoate: Less Than 1/10 of 1% As A Preservative.), Brown Sugar, Pineapple, Worcestershire Sauce (Water, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Worcestershire Sauce Base (Distilled Vinegar, Molasses, Corn Syrup, Water, Salt, Caramel Color, Garlic Powder, Spices, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Sulfiting Agent), Salt, Citric Acid), Lemon Juice, Granulated Garlic, Ground Pepper, Ginger, Salt,. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
This brisket cut of beef used is from cattle raised in California. 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 consists of poor teriyaki sauce, an average Worcestershire sauce, water, and healthy lemon juice. It is disappointing to see that the Worcestershire sauce and teriyaki sauce uses the highly processed cheap sweetener high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) to lose a rating.
There are some healthy ingredients added such as granulated garlic, black pepper, pineapple, and ginger. Pineapples have an enzyme named
bromelain that acts as a natural meat tenderizer in the food industry.
The sugar level is quite high at 9 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 4 grams of sugar or under per 28 grams of jerky for a hot based flavor. The salt level is high at 500mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose another rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
There are no unhealthy preservatives used, where this jerky is confirmed as having no sodium nitrite. Admirably, this jerky has no MSG added.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I am met with a smell I believe to be soy. The pieces are small to medium in size, and they are sliced thin to medium. The jerky is soft and dry, and there is no oily residue left on your fingers.
The first flavors I encounter are salt, pepper, garlic, I believe onion, and then the heat kicks in. Mild at first, but as I consume more jerky, the heat kicks up, and keeps kicking up to a delectable 3.5 out of 5 on the heat scale.
Imagine yourself back in the diner with Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan, in “When Harry Met Sally”, where Meg Ryan is consuming some Smokehouse Jerky Co. ‘Oh’ That’s Hot! beef jerky. She’s squirming, writhing, and gyrating over the orgasmically delicious flavor of this jerky, when another customer says to the waitress “I’ll have what she’s having…”. A 10/10 gentlemen.
Mark was equally impressed with this to say: “I loved this flavor and could not get enough. This flavor is very well-balanced with its secret pineapple/lemon juice balance, and it lives up to its flavor name of ‘OH’ That’s Hot!. The great brisket texture is what helps put this flavor over the top. This flavor was reviewed between 7 different people, and these were our most unanimous ratings to date. All were between 8 and 10 ratings, with no complaints from anybody in the Group of Seven. I have no qualms whatsoever awarding this flavor a 10 taste rating. Two thumbs way up!!!👍👍”
This 3 ounce/84 gram bag of jerky sells online for $7.99. That works out to $2.66 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a standard resealable plastic bag, with a label affixed on the front, and nothing on the back. The label has a fairly detailed picture that looks like a wooden shack with a “Jerky Co.” sign, and trees in a dark background.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed on this bags are “Old Fashion Recipe”, “No Added MSG”, “No Added Preservatives”, “Made in U.S.A.”, “Old Fashion”, and “Brisket”.
The only missing bag category missing is a blurb printed about Smokehouse Jerky Co. or this “OH” that’s Hot! flavor.
Order their jerky online: www.smokehousejerkyco.com
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