Traditionally, pemmican is a style of dried beef created by Native American Indians, and was known to last over a year. It is a mixture of cooked, dried, and a shredded type of meat combined with melted fat. The Pemmican jerky brand name is distributed by The Classic Jerky Company, located in Taylor, Michigan. Marfood USA is the private labeler behind this jerky, also located at the same address in Taylor, Michigan. Pemmican is one of the oldest and top-selling national beef jerky brands in the United States.
The next review on the Pemmican brand of jerky will focus on a 12 ounce/340 gram bag of their Korean BBQ flavored pork jerky. This bag was purchased at a discount store named Ollie’s located in Niagara Falls, New York.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Pork, Water, Sugar, Less Than 2% Of: Soy Sauce ([Wheat, Soybeans, Salt], Maltodextrin), Flavorings, Sesame Seed, Yeast Extract, Sesame Oil Allergen Warnings: Soy Sauce (Wheat, Sesame)
The pork used is guaranteed to be raised with no antibiotics and no added hormones. This pork is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam about outside. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade used here is water, a decent brand of soy sauce, and super healthy sesame oil.
The only healthy ingredient listed is super healthy sesame seeds.
The sugar level is high at 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 5 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky for a sweet based flavor. The salt level is high at 450mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to another rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
To the best of our knowledge, this jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite added. Instead, salt is the main preservative used. Also, to the best of our knowledge, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
PEMMICAN – KOREAN BBQ PORK JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I smell soy and sesame. The jerky is primarily medium in size, with a couple of large pieces thrown in, and the jerky is sliced rather thick. The jerky is dry and chewy, and there is no oily residue left on your fingers handling these jerky strips.
The first flavors I encounter are sweet, way too sweet. I detect light salt, light pepper, maybe faint garlic, but the sweet is grossly overpowering the other flavors.
My wife and I agree that this jerky is just okay, it’s not really grabbing us. We both agree that this flavor should have been beef, not pork. We both like pork, but it does not do the Korean flavor enough justice. Plus the intense sweetness is masking the remaining flavors. We both went two pieces each and tapped out, neither one of us is much impressed. Bles is at a 5/10, I may be at the same, with 6/10 being as high as I can go. But more of a 5/10, it just doesn’t offer enough of anything besides sweet. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Korean BBQ pork jerky flavor from Pemmican: “Thanks Paul for the honest taste review. I too was underwhelmed with this Korean BBQ flavor. A pity because both of us are big fans of the flavor Korean BBQ. Using pork was an interesting choice, but beef would have been better served. The sweetness level was arguably overwhelming. Overall, I found that the flavor did not much resemble Korean Barbecue.”
“Due to COVID-19, we are down to three members. Mark M. shocked Paul and I with an Excellent (10/10) rating. He was impressed with this flavor and noted a great sweetness level. With myself at a 4 rating, I suppose an Alright (6/10) taste rating is warranted.”
This 12 ounce/340 gram bag cost $9.99. That works out to $1.20 an ounce, which rates as a dirt cheap price.
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both on the front and back. On the front, there is a picture of an Indian chief.
A slogan printed on this bag is “Premium Pork Jerky.” The only fact printed on this bag is “12 OZ Bonus Size”.
All bag categories are covered with this bag. A decent blurb is printed on the back about this flavor. With such a large bag, there is plenty of space to add some more facts or information.
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