Kalbi-B-Que is a brand carried by Kroger from their Private Selection brand. This jerky is made from quality beef marinated for 24 hours in a rich blend of teriyaki, wine, pineapple juice, and sesame oil. Kroger is an American retail company and one of the largest supermarket chains in the United States, and it was founded by Bernard Kroger in 1883.
Kroger operates a diverse range of grocery stores, from traditional supermarkets to hypermarkets, supercenters, and department stores. Kroger is primarily known for its grocery retail operations, offering various food and non-food products. The Kroger jerky brand name is distributed under the name of The Kroger Co., and they are located in Cincinnati, Ohio.
The first review for Kalbi-B-Que will focus on a 2.5 ounce/70 gram bag of their Korean BBQ flavored beef jerky. This jerky bag was purchased at a Kroger store in Port Huron, Michigan.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Teriyaki Sauce (Soy Sauce [Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt], Wine, Water, Vinegar, Salt, Spices, Onion Powder, Succinic Acid, Garlic Powder, Sodium Benzoate [Preservative]), Brown Sugar, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Mirin (Glucose Syrup, Water, Alcohol, Rice, Corn Syrup, Salt), Pineapple Juice (Pineapple Juice From Concentrate [Pineapple Juice From Concentrate]), Ascorbic Acid, Rice Vinegar, Seasame Oil, Garlic, Onion. Allergen Warnings: Wheat, Soy
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have 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 liquid marinade consists of a decent brand of teriyaki sauce, a good brand of soy sauce, average mirin, healthy pineapple juice, decent rice Vinegar, and super healthy seasame oil.
The only healthy ingredients added are garlic and onion.
The sugar level is acceptable at 4 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky for a sweet based flavor, as we have here. The salt level is low at 230mg of salt per 28 grams.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite added. Instead, salt is the main preservative, along with ascorbic acid and rice vinegar to a lesser degree. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
KALBI-B-QUE – KOREAN BBQ BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I can smell both the vinegar and the BBQ, but not much else. There are three small pieces and one piece around twice the size. They are all between soft and solid, not quite soft, yet not quite hard either. The jerky is dry and drier than most Korean BBQ flavors we have tried in the past. There is no oily residue left on your fingers.
The first flavors I encounter are salt, at a decent level, and pepper, also at a decent level. I taste Korean BBQ as well. The sweetness is present, but it does not overpower the other flavors. I am also picking up on mild garlic and slight vinegar. A well balanced mixture of all the familiar flavors prominent in the Korean BBQ jerky. But I would venture to say this particular make of the Korean BBQ flavor is a cut above the rest.
However, it still leaves me wanting more. The review is writing as an 8 or 9/10, and I would be content with either, but I’m leaning more toward an 8 than a 9.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Korean BBQ beef jerky flavor from Kroger: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. I pretty much agree with everything that Paul stated. The teriyaki/soy aspect comes across well. Higher levels of garlic and onion would have been appreciated. Some smokiness is present but not all that much.”
“Thankfully, while sweet tasting, the sweetness is at a reasonable level for Korean BBQ flavor. This is likely my bias talking, but I would have loved to see the sesame level increase, which tends to round off a classic Korean BBQ flavor. As with Paul, I am also somewhere between an 8 and 9 taste rating. While the ingredient list looks very promising, there is some, but not much ‘wow’ factor present. A Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.5 ounce/70 gram bag sold for $5.99, which works out to $2.40 an ounce. That rates as a cheap price.
Bag Review
This black resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted on the bag, both on the front and back. The transparent window to view the jerky is shaped like a cow.
Some slogans printed on this bag could be “Zesty, Exotic, Feisty and a Little Smoky” and “Gnaw on This”. Some facts printed are “11 Grams of Protein”, “24 Hour Marinated”, “Our Premium Beef Jerky is Made From Quality Beef”, “Intensely Tasting”, and “Chock Full of Smoky & Bold Flavors of Teriyaki, Wine, Pineapple Juice + Sesame Oil”.
The only missing bag categories are a blurb about this brand or flavor and a sesame alergen warning. To the credit of Kroger, a toll-free phone number is provided for customer inquiries. Admirably, a money back guarantee is offered.
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