Established in 2013, Smokehouse Jerky Co. has grown significantly over the past decade, becoming a leading private label provider for over 150 jerky and snack companies. Franco and Patti Fonseca assumed company ownership in 2017 and have since been dedicated to refining their jerky and snack lines. Operating under the name Tender Heifer Snack Co., Smokehouse Jerky Co. actively seeks new distributors nationwide and offers private label services.
With a diverse product range, Smokehouse Jerky Co. presents an array of options, including beef, bacon, game, and exotic jerky, as well as meat sticks. The brand Smokehouse Jerky Co. is distributed by Tender Heifer Snack Co., which is headquartered in Beaumont, California.
The next review on Smokehouse Jerky Co. will focus on a 3.5 ounce/99 gram bag of their Honey BBQ meat sticks. This flavor is described as being a spicy twist on the classic meat stick. The meat sticks were kindly submitted for review by co-owner Franco Fonseca.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Pork, Beef, Water, Sugar, Honey Granules (Sugar, Dried Honey), Salt, Brown Sugar, Spices, Garlic and Onion Powder, Maltodextrin, Dextrose, Natural Smoke Flavor, Dextrose, Dried Molasses, Caramel Color, Spice Extractives, Encapsulated Citric Acid (Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Oil), Spices, Dehydrated Garlic, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Acetate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Nitrite, Stuffed in Colored Collagen Casing .
The pork used is guaranteed to be raised ethically with no antibiotics or added hormones. This pork is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam outside. The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth 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 Good (8/10) rating.
Some healthy ingredients listed are garlic powder, onion powder, spice extractives, and spices.
Hydrogenated palm oil is used, which contains unhealthy trans fat to lose a rating.
The artificial color red #40 or an equivalent is likely used in the collagen casing to lose a rating.
The sugar level is acceptable at 4 grams of sugar per 25 grams of meat stick. The salt level is also acceptable at 320mg of salt per 25 grams of meat stick.
Unhealthy sodium nitrite is used as a preservative in this meat stick along with sodium erythorbate to lose a rating. Admirably, this meat stick qualifies to have no MSG added.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
SMOKEHOUSE JERKY CO. – HONEY BBQ MEAT STICKS
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell almost nothing. The meat stick looks just like any other meat stick, in texture, girth and hue. It leaves an ever so slight oily residue on your fingers.
When I bite into the meat stick I am immediately overcome by the sweetness. I also detect salt, pepper, and some BBQ, but not enough to warrant calling it a BBQ flavor.
This meat stick is way too intense on the sweet to impress me. It is short on the BBQ and too much on the sweet. I also notice that the collagen casing does not “snap”.
I am duly disappointed with this particular meat stick. It is lacking in the salt and pepper, and way too concentrated on the sweetness. I am inclined to rate this meat stick as a 6/10, and I feel it is too generous. Be that as it may, I am okay with that rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Sriracha meat stick flavor from Smokehouse Jerky Co.: “Thanks Paul for the honest taste review. It has been a while since we have been so far apart in our taste reviews. The sweetness is entirely reasonable for a BBQ based flavor. On top of the sweetness is a delicious tasting BBQ flavor, which Paul seemed to have identified as additional sweetness.”
“I disagree with Paul again in that the saltiness is also at an acceptable level. The only thing we agree on is that the texture lacks ‘snap’ to lose a rating. The sweetness is not entirely your sugary type of sweetness, but the sweetness from the honey blends in very well. Overall, the taste profile is well-balanced, and any fan of barbecue flavor should find this meat stick a special treat. I should add that Paul has a long history of not being the biggest fan of barbecue flavors. With Paul at a 6 rating and myself at a 9 rating, a Good (8/10) rating will be awarded.”
This 3.5 ounce/99 gram bag of meat sticks sells online for $9.99. That works out to $2.85 an ounce, which is rated as an expensive price.
Bag Review
This non-resealable plastic bag has a label affixed to both the front and back. The label has a fairly detailed picture of a wooden shack with a “Smokehouse” sign.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only fact printed on this bag is “Made in U.S.A.”.
The only missing bag category is a best before date. A batch number is printed, which can be translated to the best before date.
Order their jerky online: www.smokehousejerkyco.com
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