Established in 2012 by founder Stanley Chase III, Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. produces plant-based jerky, focusing on replicating the texture and flavor of traditional jerky while remaining completely vegan. The company prides itself on being animal cruelty-free, gluten-free, and non-GMO, with all products made in the United States. Their jerky is crafted in small batches to ensure quality and freshness.
Louisville Vegan Jerky Co. offers a variety of unique and creative flavors, including Buffalo Hot Wing, Maple Bacon, and Maple Bacon, along with unique collaborations like Svdden Death’s Spicy Sweet Gochujang. The company uses textured soy protein, tamari, spices, and natural flavorings to create its products. Each serving provides a good source of protein with no cholesterol, making it a popular snack choice among vegans and non-vegans. This Louisville Vegan Jerky Co brand is distributed under the same name as Louisville Vegan Jerky Co., located in Louisville, Kentucky.
The first review on Louisville Vegan Jerky Co will focus on a 3 ounce/85.05 gram bag of Smoky Carolina BBQ flavored soy jerky. This flavor is described as a nostalgic BBQ flavor that comes from authentic Carolina mustard BBQ’s sweet and smoky goodness for a lip-smackingly awesome and impossible to put down. The bag was purchased at a Whole Foods Market in South Lake Tahoe, California.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Textured Soy Protein, Organic Yellow Mustard (White Vinegar, Mustard Seeds, Salt, Turmeric, Paprika, Spice, Dehydrated Garlic), Apple Cider Vinegar, Vegan Sugar, Water, Tamari (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol [To Preserve Freshness]), Vegan Brown Sugar, High Oleic Sunflower Oil (Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract, and Ascorbyl Palmitate, [Added as an Antioxidant]), Contains Less than 2% of Natural Smoke Flavor, Paprika, Spices. Allergen Warnings: Soy
Non-GMO soy protein is a controversial food concerning health benefits. Non-GMO soy protein contains all the essential amino acids your body cannot make. Some concerns about non-GMO soy protein are that they contain phytates, isoflavones that can interfere with thyroid function, and phytoestrogen, which can disrupt natural hormone levels in the body. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of organic yellow mustard, super healthy apple cider vinegar, water, a respected brand of wheat free tamari soy sauce, and high oleic sunflower oil.
Some healthy ingredients added are paprika and spices.
The sugar level is high at 7 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 5 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky for a sweet based flavor, which we have here. The salt level is good at 250mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite or other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservative used is salt. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
LOUISVILLE VEGAN JERKY CO – SMOKY CAROLINA BBQ SOY JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell what I believe to be soy. It is a rather nondescript odor, but I liken it closest to possibly soy. The pieces (not strips), or morsels if you wish, are small to medium in size and are of medium thickness. The “jerky” is soft and dry, and it leaves no oily residue.
When I bit into the “jerky”, I am met with a little salt, again, way too sweet for my liking, minimal pepper, possibly very light garlic, along with that no beef flavor. I am picking up on the BBQ a little bit, but not enough to warrant it being stated as a BBQ flavor. As a vegan jerky, it tastes okay, not too bad, but not too good either.
Passable food for sustenance purposes, but certainly not a treat, or something I would ever pine for.
Vegan “jerky” should never be considered jerky in the first place, but as vegan jerky goes, and we have reviewed some (thankfully not much), it is a small step above. For that reason I am giving it a 6/10. That is as high as I am willing to go. Maybe my furry friends will enjoy the rest of it.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Smoky Carolina BBQ soy jerky flavor from Louisville Vegan Jerky Co: “Thanks Paul for the honest taste review. For the record, Paul and I are not fans of textured soy protein. The ‘meat’ tastes like your typical vegan jerky that uses textured soy protein. However, the BBQ flavor itself is top notch. Historically, Paul is not a fan of BBQ flavors. The biggest difference in Carolina barbecue sauce is that North Carolina uses a vinegar-based BBQ sauce, which tends to be sweeter. In contrast South Carolina uses a mustard-based BBQ sauce as we have here.”
“The smokiness is prominent, and the BBQ flavor comes across as tangy and zesty tasting. True in that sweetness is present but at a passable level for a sweet-based flavor as we have here. Our mascot, whippet Lexi, surprisingly finished a strip and returned for more. Overall, the taste profile is well-balanced and delicious tasting for any fan of barbecue sauce. With Paul at a 6 rating and my texture soy protein bias aside with a 9 rating, a Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 3 ounce/85.05 gram bag of jerky was purchased for $6.99, which equates to $2.33 an ounce. That rates as an average price.
Bag Review
This yellow, resealable bag has everything imprinted on the bag on the front and back. There is an illustration of the Louisville downtown area on the front of the bag.
A slogan printed on this bag on both sides is “Keep it Fake”. Some facts printed are “0g Cholesterol”, “15g Protein”, “280 Calories”, “Est – 2012”, “Non GMO”, “Certified Gluten Free”, “Certified Vegan”, “Certified Plant Based”, “10 Year 2012-2022 Anniversary”, and “Try Our Small Batch Flavors Available Only on Our Website”.
All bag categories are covered on this bag. There is an excellent blurb printed on the bag about Louisville Vegan Jerky Co and this flavor. You are encouraged to follow Louisville Vegan Jerky Co on TikTok and Instagram. The barcode cleverly shows the downtown area of Louisville, Kentucky. The transparent window to view the jerky is shaped as the size of the state of Kentucky, with the Louisville, Kentucky, downtown area in the background. A QR code is displayed on the back.
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