LJ’s Jerky is a family-owned business with Asian roots that has been sharing its cherished jerky recipes for over 20 years. Officially incorporated in 2010, LJ’s Jerky prides itself on using only the freshest, highest-quality ingredients and USDA-approved beef to create a premium jerky experience. The brand offers a variety of flavors, each carefully crafted with a blend of honey, BBQ sauce, soy sauce, and a mix of spices to ensure a delicious and satisfying snack.
LJ’s Jerky is committed to maintaining high quality and safety standards, with regular testing to meet USDA requirements and ensure that every product meets its rigorous standards for flavor, texture, and overall quality. Despite high demand, they even offer free shipping for 20 bags or more bulk orders. This LJ’s Jerky brand is distributed under the same name as LJ’s Jerky, located in Sacramento, California.
The first review on LJ’s Jerky will focus on a 2.5 ounce/71 gram bag of Hot flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as using the same ingredients and recipe as in their original recipe, this Hot flavor is for someone who enjoys some spice in their beef jerky. The bag was purchased at a Lion Supermarket in Stockton, California.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Soy Sauce (Water, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salt, Caramel Color, Guar Gum, Potassium Sorbate (Preservative), Citric Acid), BBQ Sauce (High Fructose Corn Syrup, Distilled Vinegar, Tomato Paste, Modified Corn Syrup, Contains less than 2% Salt, Pineapple Juice Concentrate, Natural Smoke Flavor, Spice, Caramel Color, Molasses, Sodium Benzoate (Preservative), Garlic, Mustard Flour, Corn Syrup, Sugar, Tamarind, Natural Flavor, Dried Celery Seed), Sugar, Hickory Liquid Smoke (Hickory Smoke Concentrate), Hot Peppers, Black Pepper, Monosodium Glutamate. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed 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 liquid marinade is comprised of water, an unhealthy brand of soy sauce, a fair brand of BBQ sauce, and hickory liquid smoke.
The only healthy ingredients added are black pepper and hot peppers.
There is no nutrition facts table provided. As a result, the exact sugar and salt levels are unknown. Based on the taste alone, this jerky undoubtedly has more than 4 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky for a hot based flavor to lose a rating. The BBQ sauce contains the lousy sweetener high fructose corn syrup to lose another rating.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite or other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservative used is salt.
This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added as monosodium glutamate is used outright to lose a rating. The cheap, highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used in the barbecue sauce to lose another rating.
Fair (4/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
LJ’S JERKY – HOT BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell sweet, and nothing else. The strips are large and thin, somewhat similar to strips of bacon. The jerky has a fair amount of fat (also similar to bacon), which typically enhances or intensifies the jerky flavor. The jerky is dry, and by that I mean slightly crispy, yet it does leave some oily residue on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky, I taste salt and sugar at a decent level, which is much too high (unfortunately) because without the intense sweetness, I would likely be a big fan of this flavor. I am also picking up on the heat. It is tasty heat and not so subtle. I can taste the heat, and as I eat more, the heat factor is intensifying. I may be detecting slight garlic as well. As always, the fat greatly enhances the flavor, making this a very tasty experience, just too d*mn sweet.
I must deduct one rating for the intense sweetness, but otherwise, I am an ardent fan. Take out the sweet and I would be hooked. A very well deserved 9/10. Initially, I was inclined to deduct two ratings
Here is what Mark had to say about this Hot beef jerky flavor from LJ’s Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the accurate taste review. I agree with every single point stated. Nobody could be faulted in thinking this jerky looks like bacon instead of beef. It’s great to see a jerky maker using so much fat, which has an unwarranted bad reputation. The heat is at a decent level, hitting a 2 out of 5 on the scale, and arguably a 3. As stated, the only disappointing aspect is the excessive sweetness. For whatever reason, that seems to be the norm for Asian jerky. With these thin jerky strips and sugar, the texture almost takes on a candied effect.”
“The overall taste profile is very well-balanced, and the heat adds greatly to that for fans of heat. Initially, I was tempted to deduct two points for the disproportionate sweetness, but I had a change of mind. There is some ‘wow’ factor present, specifically with all the fat. Plus, this jerky is still downright addictive. A unanimous Very Good (9/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.5 ounce/71 gram bag of jerky costs $8.59, which equates to $3.44 an ounce. That rates as an average price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear, resealable bag has a label affixed to the front and nothing on the back. The LJ’s Jerky logo has a mean looking bull’s head.
A slogan printed on this bag could be “The Original”. The only facts printed are “Product Contains Fat” and “Smoke Flavor Added”.
Some facts printed are “Natural Smoke Flavoring Added”, “Est. 1922”, “No Preservatives or Nitrates”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, and “Gluten Free”.
Some missing bag categories are a blurb about LJ’s Jerky or this flavor, the jerky weight stated in grams, and a nutrition facts table.
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