Since 1998, Cowboy’s Caviar has supplied jerky fans with their incredible soft chew beef jerky. They are a locally owned and operated small family business and take great satisfaction in doing their part to support Canadian farmers over the years. Cowboy’s Caviar jerky is available for sale throughout Canada. They always attend a great lineup of trade shows all over Western Canada.
Cowboy’s Caviar beef jerky boasts a diverse selection of five distinct flavors for you to savor. Each product in their lineup is crafted with unwavering dedication, using only 100% Canadian beef, pork, and bison. The creation of Cowboy’s Caviar, a true delight, can be attributed to the Cowboy himself. Some even say Cowboy’s Caviar is like a slice of heaven conveniently packaged in a bag. The Cowboy’s Caviar jerky brand name is distributed under the same name as Cowboy’s Caviar, and it is located in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada.
The first review on Cowboy’s Caviar will focus on a 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of their teriyaki flavoured beef jerky. This flavor is described as being not too sweet, salty, or smoky and is just the right blend of perfection. The bag was purchased in Broadview, Saskatchewan, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Jerky Seasoning [Sugar, Salt, Soy Sauce Powder (Soybeans, Maltodextrin), Spices, Sodium Erythorbate, Hydrolyzed Vegetable Protein (Corn, Soy)], Sugar, Salt, Sodium Nitrite, Smoke. Allergen Warnings: Soy
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 texture of this jerky is chopped and formed. As a result, two ingredient ratings are deducted without a natural whole muscled strip of jerky.
The only liquid used in the marinade is water. The soy sauce is in powdered form.
The only healthy ingredient listed is spices.
The sugar level is acceptable at 4 grams of sugar per 30 grams of jerky for a sweet based flavor. The salt level is on the high side at 470mg of salt per 30 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added as sodium nitrite is used outright, along with sodium erythorbate as preservatives to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added, as the highly processed, cheap flavor enhancer hydrolyzed vegetable protein is used to lose another rating.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
COWBOY’S CAVIAR – TERIYAKI BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell nothing, except maybe a slight hint of natural beef. The pieces are small and thick, pretty much uniform in shape, size and thickness, which makes me automatically presume it’s chopped and formed. The jerky is rigid, yet quite easy to chew. There is no oily residue handling these jerky strips.
When I bite into the jerky I immediately taste salt, at a higher level than is the norm, but not too intense. I also taste pepper, garlic, slight onion, and a mild amount of natural beef. I am surprised at the lack of sweet coming from the jerky, it being advertised as teriyaki, but to me this is a good thing, but it is not in accordance with the typical sweetness of a teriyaki flavour.
Personally, I am not inclined to dock a point for lack of sweetness, but in keeping with the typical flavour of teriyaki, I suppose I should deduct a point for the lack of sweetness. I will begrudgingly do that, and further judge this flavour for the complete lack of a teriyaki flavour.
Tastewise, I am thoroughly enjoying this jerky, but teriyaki wise, it is clearly lacking. Therefore, I am dutifully inclined to rate this flavour of jerky as an 8/10, deducting 2 points for not being even remotely close to a teriyaki flavour. Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
This Cowboy’s Caviar Jerky Teriyaki is okay, although I don’t really find any correlation with a more traditional Teriyaki flavour. I do taste some type of Asian flair, and it is rather muted by its excessive saltiness. I like salt as much as the next guy, and I am sure some people will be overpowered by it. I do notice a strange taste, and I can’t really put my finger on it. There is a significant amount of umami flavor added, which is not all bad, but I wonder if it is covering for something else or perhaps creating the off-taste in the first place. The texture of the meat stick is somewhat lean, and the aroma is nothing too exciting.
Finally, I don’t dislike this Cowboy’s Caviar Jerky Teriyaki flavour, and I am also not enamored by it in any way. I’d rate this jerky between a 7 or 8/10 Taste Rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this teriyaki beef jerky flavour from Cowboy’s Caviar: “Thanks Paul and Stéphane for the candid taste reviews. I agree with everything stated. This flavour barely tastes like your classic teriyaki flavour. While not my personal favourite, the texture is fairly soft and tender, being chopped and formed. Not mentioned is a pleasant mild smoky flavour in the background.”
“While I enjoyed this flavour, ratings have to be deducted for the lack of teriyaki flavour and ‘wow’ factor. With Stéphane at a 7 rating and both Paul and me at an 8 rating, a Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.8 ounce/85 gram bag of jerky costs $6.99. That works out to $2.50 an ounce, which rates as a cheap price.
Bag Review
This non-resealable clear plastic bag has labels affixed to the front and back. The Cowboy’s Caviar logo depicts a cowboy riding a horse.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only fact printed is “Made in SK”.
The only missing bag category is a blurb about this jerky or flavour. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided.
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