Original USA Kilishi debuted in 2021. Kilishi is described as the African version of beef jerky, which uses peanut butter, among other ingredients. Their kilishi ingredients are special herbs & spices unique only to their kilishi, making it delicious and outstanding. Original USA Kilishi is an Original USA Product, one of the many products made in the USA with original African recipes. Original USA Kilishi is distributed under the name of Original USA Products, LLC, and it is located in Baltimore, Maryland.
The first review on Original USA Kilishi will focus on a 2.2 ounce/62.37 gram bag of their hot flavored beef kilishi. This jerky was kindly submitted for review by manager Yusuf.
Ingredient Review
Beef, Water, Peanut Butter (Peanuts, Sugar, Molasses, Vegetable Oil, Salt), Sugar, Red Pepper Flakes, Sea Salt, Monosodium Glutamate, Artificial Color, Spice, Garlic Powder, Seasoning Cube (Iodized Salt, Sugar, Flavor Enhancers (Monosodium Glutamate, Disodium Inosinate, Disodium Guanylate), Maize Starch, Vegetable Fat (Palm), Hydrolysed Soya Beans, Water, Colour (Ammonia Caramel), Onion, Ferric Pyrophosphate, Emulsifier (Soya Lecithin), Spice Extractives (White Pepper, Chili, Clove), Flavouring, Yeast Extract). Allergen Warnings: Soy, Peanuts
The beef used is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle are also guaranteed to have some free range access to roam about and graze on grass the way nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
There is no liquid marinade used. Some people call this a dry rub or traditional jerky/kilishi.
Some healthy ingredients are added, such as peanut butter, red chili pepper flakes, spices, garlic powder, onions, white pepper, chili peppers, and cloves.
Artificial color is used to lose a rating.
The sugar level is high at 3 grams of sugar per 12g of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 380mg of salt per 12 grams of jerky. However, the salt level is ignored because minimally processed, healthy sea salt is used.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservative.
This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added as MSG is used outright. The cheap flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used. The flavor enhancers disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate are used. This could mean three ingredients deducted but will be capped at two ingredient ratings deducted.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
ORIGINAL USA KILISHI – HOT BEEF KILISHI
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The Kilishi has a pleasant aroma reminiscent of ketchup. The flavor is good and significantly spicy. I was expecting the peanut butter to be more prominent. There was no mention on the bag it would be, and as such, it must have been intended. This kilishi has some good flavors, and it is somewhat overwhelmed by the spiciness. I wish the focus would have been more on the flavor profile rather than the spiciness stealing the show. The peanut butter is light on the taste, but it adds texture and richness to the product.
This is the first time I’ve tried Kilishi. I like its taste. and I’ve found it a bit addicting even though the spiciness is rather distracting. I’d rate this jerky an 8, and I’d also be comfortable with 9/10, as it seems to me they delivered on their goal.
Here is what Mark had to say about this hot beef kilishi flavor from Original USA Kilishi: “Thanks Stéphane for the honest taste review. This flavor can be hot for sure, and some strips are hotter than others. I did clarify with Original USA Kilishi that the flavor name is indeed Hot. Some may say it crosses the line of being too hot, perhaps, but not enough to deduct a rating. It is the inconsistency of the heat strip to strip that does warrant a rating deduction.”
“This is our first review on kilishi, which I had only known by name and that it is an African version of beef jerky. I did not know that kilishi traditionally uses peanut butter, as is the case here. Of near 1,000 reviews published to date, this is the first jerky/kilishi review that uses peanut butter. It turns out that peanut butter adds a great crunchiness to the texture. Unlike Stéphane, who was distracted by the heat, I found the flavor of peanut butter to be at a pleasant level.”
“Overall, accentuated by the heat, the taste profile explodes here with a myriad of flavors. There is however a fair amount of sweetness present. With Stéphane at an 8 or 9, myself at a solid 9 rating, a Very Good (9/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.2 ounce/62.37 gram bag of jerky sells for $14.99. That works out to $6.81 an ounce, which rates at an expensive price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has a label affixed to both the front and back. On the front, there is a high resolution picture of kilishi.
A slogan printed on this bag may be “African Beef Jerky”. Some facts printed are “Made in USA”, “Hot Spice Level”, “USDA Certified”, “Spicy”, “Premium Marbled Beef”, and “Smoke Flavor Added”.
The only missing bag category is a transparent window to view the jerky. There is a good blurb printed on the back about this kilishi. You are encouraged to follow Original USA Kilishi on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. To the credit of Original USA Kilishi, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: http://oupllc.com
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