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 8 ounce/227 gram bag of their Sweet Peppered flavored beef sticks. This flavor is described as being seasoned with a blend of savory spices, including a hint of sweetness and a touch of pepper. The beef sticks were graciously submitted for review by co-owner Franco Fonseca.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Sugar, Water, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salt, Smoke Flavor, Spices, Soy Sauce (Water, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Salt, Molasses, Caramel Color, Sodium Benzoate), Latic Acid, Sodium Nitrite Allergen Warnings: Soy
This beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. 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.
The only healthy ingredient added is spices that has to include black pepper, which some people refer to as the King of Spices.
The sugar level is a little high at 4 grams of sugar per 28 grams of beef stick to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of beef stick. The salt level is low at 200mg of salt per 28 grams of beef stick.
Unhealthy sodium nitrite is used as a preservative in this meat stick to lose a rating. This beef stick does not qualify to have no MSG added because the cheap, highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used to lose another rating.
Average (5/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
SMOKEHOUSE JERKY CO. – SWEET PEPPERED BEEF STICKS
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell sweet. Not a good start. There are four equal sized “meat sticks”, all of the same size, thickness, and hue. Apparently, there is no collagen casing, so there is no “snap” as we bite into the “meat stick”.
I put “meat sticks” in quotes because these “morsels of meat” don’t look, feel or eat like meat sticks.
The flavors I detect from these “meat sticks” are all pedestrian, except for the sweet. Minimal salt, minimal garlic, and even minimal pepper, a listed ingredient, are all slight at best. The overpowering flavor of intense sweetness is sullying this taste review. A mediocre 7/10, maybe even as low as a 6/10, depending on if you can convince me otherwise. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Sweet Peppered beef stick flavor from Smokehouse Jerky Co.: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. While not advertised, these beef sticks indeed have no collagen casing. As a result, there is almost no ‘snap’ in the texture to lose a rating. To the best of my recollection, these beef sticks are the sweetest tasting meat sticks to date. The sweetness level is not overwhelming, but certainly bearable.”
“As Paul stated, the black pepper level is not all that noticeable. In fairness, this beef stick is advertised only to have a touch of pepper. Nevertheless, I found the overall taste profile to be pleasant tasting and well-balanced (even with the sweetness) resulting in a certain addictiveness. With Paul at a 7 rating and myself at an 8, a Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 8 ounce/227 gram bag of meat sticks sells online for $16.95. That works out to $2.12 an ounce, which rates as an average 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. Some facts printed on this bag are “Made in U.S.A.” and “Half Pound”.
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.smokehousejerky.com
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