Island Jerky is different from your typical jerky. They create the best hickory wood smoked beef jerky available in British Columbia. Founded in 2013, the Smokehouse has been a local producer on Vancouver Island. They pride themselves on using the highest quality beef and spices that produce lean, actual wood smoked beef jerky. Available in Original (that is wheat free), Teriyaki (that is not sweet), and their newest flavour, Black Pepper (also wheat free) – their customers can never get enough.
Jodi Quinn and Jerry Antoniuk, owners of TWO J’s with over 25 years of experience, make Island Jerky in small hand crafted batches (which adds a subtle flavour that doesn’t overpower the high-quality beef) and has a moist, tender texture. If you are looking for an actual lean wood smoked jerky – Island Jerky will be your one and only Jerk. The Island Jerky brand name is distributed under the name 3 J’s Smokehouse, and it is located in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada.
The first review on Island Jerky will focus on a 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of their Original flavoured beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a gas station in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Salt, Dextrose, Spice, Sodium Erythorbate, Onion Powder, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Nitrite, Smoke.
The cattle are believed to have partial free range access to graze on grass. The cattle are also believed to be ethically raised, meaning that the cows received no growth hormones or additional antibiotics. As a result, the ingredient rating starts at a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade consists of just plain old water.
Some healthy ingredients added are onion powder and spices.
The sugar level is perfect at 0 grams of sugar per 30 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 600mg of salt per 30 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added as sodium nitrite is used outright, along with sodium erythorbate as preservatives to lose a rating. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
ISLAND JERKY – ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell natural beef and not much else. This particular make and model is just one large piece of jerky, sliced rather thin. It is dry and chewy, and by chewy, I mean pretty much exactly as our forefathers intended.
When I bite into the jerky, I taste salt, which is at an excellent level for me but maybe too intense for some others. I love it. I also taste pepper, minimal sweetness, along with a decent amount of garlic and perhaps a bit of onion in the background.
This jerky is tasting quite delicious. I am detecting a bit of the buttery flavour, just the right amount.
I am quite impressed with this particular flavour of jerky. It tastes excellent tasting, and I can find no reason not to award it a perfect 10/10.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Original beef jerky flavour from Island Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the positive taste review. This jerky is indeed salty tasting, but I suppose at an acceptable level. There is not much going on in this taste profile, but it’s hard to be critical as an original flavour should concentrate on the natural beef flavor. Paul described the beef as having a buttery flavor, a term we use for high quality beef with a rich, natural beef flavor.”
“I agree that the sweetness is minimal and appreciated, which allows the natural beef flavor to shine through. I cannot say that there was much ‘wow’ factor other than the natural beef flavor and the smokiness is a nice addition. With myself at a 9 rating and Paul at a 10 rating, an Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of jerky is advertised at $9.00. That works out to $3.19 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This plastic bag has everything imprinted on the front and nothing on the back. The Island Jerky logo depicts an illustration of the sun. This bag is vacuum sealed, which is the best way to keep the jerky fresh tasting.
A slogan printed could be “A Sidney BC Company”. Some facts printed on this bag are “100% Canadian Beef Jerky” and “Wheat Free”.
Some missing bag categories are a blurb about the jerky or flavour as well as distributor address details. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided. To the credit of Island Jerky, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
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