Vermont Smoke & Cure has consciously crafted delicious smoked meats using premium meat, spices, herbs, and simple local ingredients since 1962. Their meat snacks are made in small batches, hand crafted, and slow cooked for over 18 hours. Half of their sticks are smoked using maple, hickory, or cob woodchips in their Smokehouse to add a unique flavor. Smoking tenderizes meat to give it that extra burst of flavor. Smoking is an art that has been around for hundreds of years and requires patience and practice.
Their cooking process starts by naturally fermenting (or preserving) their products as they mix the meat with their various high-quality spices. This slow-fermentation process delivers the tangy flavor that is their brand’s signature. Then they undergo an intense, small batch hardwood smoking process that has rich, smoky flavors. Smoking enhances flavor and color, contributing to product freshness and resulting in a premium flavor experience. The products are smoked at around 120°F to reach minimum internal temperatures. This brand of Vermont Smoke & Cure meat sticks is distributed under the same name as Vermont Smoke & Cure, and it is based out of Hinesburg, Vermont.
The next review on the Vermont Smoke & Cure will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their BBQ flavored beef sticks. This flavor is described as being made with molasses, paprika, and other spices that deliver a tangy-sweet snack of authentic BBQ flavor. The bag was purchased at a gas station in Marysville, Michigan.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Molasses, Sea Salt, Less Than 2% Of: Sugar, Paprika, Spices, Tamarind, Cherry Powder, Celery Powder, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Lactic Acid Starter Culture (Not From Milk), Encased in Colored (Beta Carotene, Caramel), Beef Collagen Casing.
The beef used is raised ethically, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and extra hormones. 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 Very Good (9/10) rating.
There are some healthy ingredients used, such as spices, cherry powder, paprika, onion powder, and garlic powder.
The sugar level is good at having 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of meat stick. The salt level is a little high at 370mg per 28 grams of meat stick. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of meat stick. However, minimally processed sea salt is used, so the salt level is ignored. This meat stick does qualify to have no sodium nitrite. Instead, sea salt is the main preservative and, to a lesser degree, healthy celery powder. Commendably, this meat stick does qualify to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
VERMONT SMOKE & CURE – BBQ BEEF STICKS
When I open this vacuum-sealed bag, I smell a typical meat stick that has an acidic fragrance. The size is half of what you would normally see for a meat stick, in this case, a 0.5oz sized stick. The texture is very soft and tender, being very easy to chew. There are no visible signs of fat, and handling these meat sticks leaves a slightly oily residue on your fingers.
The first tastes encountered are mild saltiness, light black pepper/garlic/onion, minimal sweetness, a mild sourness, and a blend of tastes that sort of resemble a barbecue sauce. As I consume more, the flavors mentioned above flavors slightly increase. There is a light fruity flavor present, presumably the cherry powder, which tastes favorably. In the background is a faint smokiness.
This texture barely has any ‘snap’ present to lose a rating. The overall taste profile does contain some ‘wow’ factor to a certain degree. This BBQ flavor is enjoyable and sort of comes across as an authentic tasting BBQ flavor. With the lost rating due to the lack of snap, I find myself between an 8 and 9 rating. I have no clearly defined complaints about this BBQ flavor itself, so I am inclined to award a Very Good (9/10) taste rating.
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag costs $4.99. That equates to a price of $1.67 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable white plastic bag has everything imprinted on the bag itself, both on the front and back. No labels are affixed to this bag. There is a high resolution picture of the beef stick on the back.
A slogan printed on this bag is “Mini Size Big Flavor”. Some facts printed are “Beef Raised Without Antibiotics”, “Seasoned Mini Beef Sticks”, “Gluten Free”, “90 Calories”, “6g Protein”, “2g Carbs”, “1g Sugars”, and “Made in Vermont”.
There are no missing bag categories. A good blurb is printed on the back and front about this flavor. Admirably, Vermont Smoke & Cure provides a toll-free phone number for customer inquiries.
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