Kitchen Kuttings is a family-oriented business with roots in Mennonite traditions. Established in 1988, the company began with a cherished family recipe for summer sausage, which remains a signature product. Their summer sausages are crafted from Grade A Ontario beef, often combined with Canadian pork, and smoked using maple and hickory wood. These sausages have a long shelf life, making them ideal for shipping and storage.
Kitchen Kuttings offers an array of handmade products, including jams, cheeses, pickles, baked goods, gift baskets, and jerky. They are dedicated to quality and community, operating both a retail shop and a café where customers can enjoy their goods and connect with the local culture. Their products are distributed locally and shipped across Canada, reflecting their commitment to sharing traditional flavours nationwide.
The Earlidale jerky brand name is distributed by Kitchen Kittings Inc., and it is located in Elmira, Ontario, Canada. This jerky is manufactured by Earlidale, and also located in Elmira, Ontario.
The first review on Earlidale will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their Original flavoured beef jerky. This bag was purchased at St. Jacobs Market in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Soya Sauce (Water, Salt, Caramel, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Corn Syrup, Glucose Solids, Sodium Benzoate), Sugar, Salt, Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Sodium Nitrate, Spice, Natural Smoke. Allergen Warnings: Soy
The cattle are guaranteed to have partial free range access to graze on grass. The cattle are also ethically raised, meaning that the cows receive no growth hormones or additional antibiotics. As a result, the ingredient rating starts at a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of just an unhealthy brand of soy sauce.
Some healthy ingredients added are onion powder and garlic powder.
The sugar level is acceptable at 2 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 490mg of salt per 28 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 nitrate is used outright as a preservative to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added, as the highly processed, cheap flavour enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used to lose another rating.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
EARLIDALE- ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I believe it is soy I am smelling, and not much else. The jerky strips are medium in size, and they are sliced to a medium thickness. The jerky is neither hard nor soft, somewhere in between. There is no oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky I am met with a good level of salt, mild sweet, solid level of pepper, along with faint garlic and possibly onion. It tastes pretty much just like an original flavour should. With each bite, there is a light smokiness taste in the background.
I have to say this is an enjoyable flavour, it is hitting all the right notes, Earlidale’s has done a very good job. I would be willing to give it a 9/10, only because it falls just short of any “WOW” factor.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Original beef jerky flavour from Earlidale: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. I mostly agree with everything stated. We reviewed this flavour earlier this year under a different jerky brand name. Paul used the term ‘buttery’ in that review to explain the natural beef flavour. While this jerky does not quite possess that classic ‘buttery’ taste, which is reserved for high quality natural beef flavour that takes on a buttery flavour, there is a hint of high quality tasting beef with this jerky. Paul later confirmed that there was some ‘buttery’ taste but neglected to mention that in his taste review, which to me is the ‘wow’ factor.”
“Thankfully, only light or mild sweetness is present so as not to mute the natural beef flavour so much. As usual, my bias would have preferred higher levels of garlic and onion, especially fresh onion and garlic, but the garlic and onion are at acceptable levels. With each bite, there is a light level of smokiness in the background. There is also a light soy flavour from the flavour enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein, which is not healthy at all, but tastes great.”
“Overall, a light, well-balanced flavour with a focus on the natural beef flavour, just the way it should be for an original flavour. With Paul at a 9 rating and myself with no clear complaints, where I could seemingly eat this jerky all day, an Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag of jerky costs $11.00. That works out to $3.67 an ounce, which rates as a borderline expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear, non-resealable bag has a label affixed to the front and nothing on the back. The bag is vacuum sealed, which is the best way to keep jerky fresh tasting.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed are “Product of Fine Meat Products”, “Since 1997”, “2 for $20.00”, and “This Product is Gluten Free”.
Some missing bag categories are graphics and a blurb about the company or flavour. Admirably, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided.
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