Maui~Licious was founded in 2000 by the founder, Dr. Charles R. Medeiros (Dr. Chuck). Maui~Licious, Inc. was contacted by a jerky maker seeking to purchase a 5 gallon bucket of their trademark Teri~Licious sauce created 75 years ago. Instead, Dr. Chuck started making his own jerky using this Teri~Licious sauce as the base marinade for all of their four flavors (Original, Sweet N Spicy, Teriyaki, Hot).
In 2019, Dr. Chuck decided it was time to retire at age 85. Maui~Licious, Inc. contacted Smokehouse Jerky Co. to take over the tradition of continuing to manufacture Maui~Licious. After some negotiation, the terms were reached. Smokehouse Jerky Co. officially took over the Maui~Licious jerky brand in late 2019, and Dr. Chuck formally retired. Smokehouse Jerky Co. is located in Beaumont, California.
The next review on Maui~Licious beef jerky will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their sweet n’ spicy flavored beef jerky. We previously reviewed this Sweet N’ Spicy flavor back in 2014. This jerky was graciously submitted for review by co-owner Patti Fonseca from Smokehouse Jerky Co.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce, (Water, Wheat, Soybeans and Salt) Granulated Sugar, Garlic, Ginger, Sesame Seed Oil, Minced Onion, Lavender Spice, Bourbon Flavor (Propylene Glycol, Alcohol, Carmel Color, Water, Artificial Flavors, contains Sulfites), Black Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Sesame, Soy, Wheat
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 a decent brand of soy sauce, an average brand of teriyaki sauce, very healthy sesame seed oil, and an awful bourbon flavor. The bourbon flavor contains the oil derivative propylene glycol to lose a rating, which has no business being in the food chain. The bourbon flavor also uses artificial flavors to lose another rating.
The trifecta of healthy vegetables is achieved with minced onion, garlic and ginger, along with healthy black pepper.
The most exciting ingredient is lavender spice. The scent of lavender, a flower, is said to be soothing to the human spirit and has been used as a culinary herb for centuries. No other spice smells like lavender, and it has multiple health benefits.
The sugar level is extremely high at 13 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is right at our upper limit of 350mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
Admirably, this jerky qualifies to have no MSG added. Also commendable in that this jerky also qualifies to have no sodium nitrite added. Apart from salt, there are no unhealthy preservatives used in this jerky.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Maui~Licious – Sweet N’ Spicy Beef Jerky (Review #2)
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I don’t smell much of anything. The jerky is medium in size, and it is sliced to a medium thickness. The jerky is soft and a little moist, and it leaves a slight oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavors I detect are salt, sweet, pepper, garlic, and some heat from the chili flakes. Each flavor I am tasting is coming through at around the same intensity. They are all rather prominent, with no one particular flavor overpowering the others. It is a favorable mix and a flavor that is pretty much hitting on all cylinders. While I am not ‘Wowed’, I am duly impressed. A 9/10 gentlemen.
Here is what Stéphane had to say: “The Maui-Licious Sweet & Spicy Beef Jerky explodes with delicious flavors. The taste, texture, and aroma are top-notch all the way.”
“This jerky is reasonably sweet and the spiciness is at a perfect level. Each bite burst with tons of complexity and depth of flavors. The flavor profile is well balanced and adequately complemented with a few Oriental notes.”
“A first bite and I was already addicted to the Maui-Licious Sweet & Spicy Beef Jerky. I can only find good things in this jerky from the taste to the texture and the aroma, it is simply delicious.
A well deserved 10/10 taste rating.” Two thumbs way up!!!👍👍
Here is what Mark had to say about this Sweet N’ Spicy beef jerky flavor from Maui~Licious: “Thanks Paul and Stéphane for the great taste reviews. I am in agreement here with one caveat. Quite a few chili pepper flakes fell off these strips. Normally, I would include some of those fallen flakes in Paul’s and Stéphane portions but forgot. There is a solid level of heat here. Probably a 2/5 on the heat scale, and possibly higher.”
Due to COVID-19, we are down to four people from the Group of Seven. I tend to lean towards Paul here, as did Mark M. with a solid Very Good (9/10) taste rating. This sweet n’ spicy flavor has a complex taste profile, full of flavor. We surely recommend for fans of a sweet and spicy flavor.”
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag sells online for $7.99, which works out to $2.66 an ounce. That would rate as an average price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This bag certainly has some color. There are no labels affixed to this bag, where everything is imprinted directly on the bag. There are colorful plants and flowers, with a body of water in the background, presumably the ocean. Above the water, the sky in the background gradually gets bluer the higher it gets, quite clever. This bag is vacuum-sealed, the best way to keep a jerky flavor fresh tasting.
The only slogan is their trademark name Teri-Licious™ printed on both the front and back. Some facts printed on this bag are “Gourmet”, “Tender & Juicy” and “Deliciously Flavorful”.
Almost all bag categories are covered. Missing are soy/wheat/sesame allergen alerts, and the jerky weight is not stated in grams. There is a good blurb about Maui~Licious printed on the back of this bag. To the credit of Maui~Licious, they provide a toll-free number for any customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.smokehousejerky.com
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