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 Hot & Spicy meat sticks. This flavor is described as being seasoned with various spices and herbs, and then slow-cooked to perfection. The meat sticks were graciously submitted for review by co-owner Franco Fonseca.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Pork, Beef, Water, Spices (Including Mustard Seed, Habanero Pepper, Celery Seed), Dextrose, Corn Syrup Solids, Monosodium Glutamate, Ghost Pepper Powder, Garlic Powder, Encapsulated Citric Acid (Citric Acid, Hydrogenated Palm Oil), Sodium Acetate, Sodium Diacetate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite, Stuffed in a 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, mustard seed, and spices. The heat is achieved from habanero pepper and ghost pepper powder, which is healthy if eaten in moderation.
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 great at 1 gram of sugar per 25 grams of meat stick. The salt level is high at 440mg of salt per 25 grams of meat stick to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of meat stick.
Unhealthy sodium nitrite is used as a preservative in this meat stick along with sodium erythorbate to lose a rating. This meat stick does not qualify to have no MSG added, as monosodium glutamate is used outright to lose a rating.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
SMOKEHOUSE JERKY CO. – HOT & SPICY MEAT STICKS
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell both vinegar and a “spice” smell. The meat stick is the same shape and thickness as a regular meat stick (pepperette). The hue is maybe a tiny bit darker than your pedestrian meat stick.
When I bite into the meat stick I am disappointed that there is no “snap” to the collagen casing around the meat stick.
But as for flavors, there are plenty. I taste equal amounts of salt and pepper, little to no sweetness, more than your average meat stick’s heat factor, and garlic and onion in the background.
Wow!! The more bites I take, the more intense the heat, but, d*mn, is it some kind of tasty. Hot and tasty do not always correlate, but they do here, in spades.
I am experiencing an out-of-body experience. It is duly and completely caressing my palette. What a home run as per flavor, no, a grand slam!!
Under normal circumstances, I would deduct a point for the lack of a “snap” in the collagen casing, but since I am rating this jerky an 11/10, the one point deduction still will equal a 10/10. Very well done Smokehouse Jerky Co.!!👍
Here is what Mark had to say about this Hot & Spicy meat stick flavor from Smokehouse Jerky Co.: “Thanks Paul for the enthusiastic taste review. I wholly agree with everything Paul stated. Wow, this flavor certainly lives up to the hot & spicy name without going overboard. I would have no qualms whatsoever if this meat stick were named habanero or ghost pepper. In doing these taste reviews for over ten years now, this is the hottest meat stick reviewed to date.”
“Taste wise there is nothing to complain about. The overall taste profile works beautifully with the focus being on the heat. The only minor complaint is that the texture contains almost no ‘snap’. With Paul at a 10 rating and myself at a 9 rating, a well-deserved Excellent (10/10) rating will be awarded. Congratulations Smokehouse Jerky Co. for selling what I consider to be the unofficial hottest meat stick in the world. A very enthusiastic two thumbs up!!👍👍”
This 3.5 ounce/99 gram bag of meat sticks sells online for $8.95. That works out to $2.55 an ounce, which is rated as an expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
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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