Avalon Meat Candy is a veteran-owned, USDA-certified jerky company renowned for its innovative take on traditional beef jerky. Founded by Christian Petersen in April 2016, the brand emerged from his quest to create the perfect jerky after experiencing frequent shortages at his favorite store in Huntington Beach, California. Leveraging his background in the Coast Guard and his experience in the electrical business, Christian began crafting jerky as gifts for clients, eventually developing it into a full-fledged enterprise.
Avalon Meat Candy distinguishes itself with its signature “crispy jerky chips,” offering a light, crunchy texture that sets it apart from the traditional chewy jerky. These chips are hand-cut, wafer-thin, and slow-cooked to perfection, providing a unique snacking experience.
Avalon Meat Candy uses 100% Angus beef and offers custom flavors, catering to customer preferences. The company also extends discounts to veterans and police officers as a token of appreciation. Beyond their crispy jerky chips, Avalon Meat Candy’s product line includes traditional jerky cuts, snacks, dog treats, sauces, and fruit rolls.
I had the pleasure of meeting Christian at his storefront, where I was given an educational tour of this United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) approved plant and its impressive setup. This Avalon Meat Candy brand is distributed under the same name as Avalon Meat Candy, and it is located in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The next review on Avalon Meat Candy will focus on a 1 ounce/28 gram bag of their Island Heat flavored crispy Angus beef chips. This jerky was kindly submitted for review by Master Chef/Owner Christian Petersen.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Angus Beef Sliced Thin, Aloha Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Salt, Sugar, Soybeans, Caramel Coloring, Sodium Benzoate), Water, Cane Sugar, Distilled White Vinegar, Tabasco Sauce (Distilled Vinegar, Red Pepper, Salt), Garlic, Paprika, Black Pepper, Crushed Red Pepper, Habanero, and Ghost Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The Angus beef used is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle have partial free range access to roam about and graze on grass as nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade used here is comprised of an alright brand of Aloha soy sauce, water, healthy distilled vinegar, and a well-respected brand of Tabasco sauce.
Some healthy ingredients added are garlic, paprika, and black pepper. The heat is achieved from crushed red chili pepper, habanero pepper, and ghost peppers.
The sugar content is acceptable at 3 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is also acceptable at 290mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservative used is salt. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
AVALON MEAT CANDY – ISLAND HEAT BEEF CHIPS
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell nothing. The jerky strips are regular in size, just like most strips of beef jerky, except these strips are paper thin. The jerky is exceptionally dry, almost crumbly, and there is obviously no oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky strips, I am met with a strong level of salt, which I love, alongside almost no sweetness, medium pepper, light garlic, and onion. The (island) heat is becoming more prevalent as I eat more strips. It is not intense heat, but rather a good heat, where the heat and flavor mesh very well, making for an enjoyable snack experience. The thin strips hold the flavors quite well. This jerky tastes like “more”. I am very comfortable awarding a resounding 10/10. Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
There is a lot going on with this jerky. The aroma is very pleasant, and the marinade and seasonings are nicely in the background. The marinade is at a reasonable level with the soya and smokiness. The sweetness and saltiness are well balanced, the spiciness is medium low and doesn’t interfere with the tasty beef. The flavor profile carries depth of flavor, and the paper thin slices are the cherry on the Sunday.
I really enjoyed this jerky. It’s flavorful and has a pleasant texture and mouthfeel. It’s a great treat and I rate it 9.5/10 Taste Rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Island Heat Angus beef jerky flavor from Avalon Meat Candy: “Thanks Paul Stéphane and for the favorable reviews. The heat is at a reasonable level, around a 2 out of 4 on the heat scale. As usual, we all agree that this wafer thin, super crispy texture is awesome tasting. The Angus beef has no hint at all of tasting processed.”
“I could argue that there is a lack of ‘wow’ factor, but this Island Heat flavor still tastes great. There is not much to add here as Paul and Stéphane covered all aspects. With Paul at a 10, Stéphane at a 9.5, and myself at a 9, an Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
A 1 ounce/28 gram bag of jerky sells online for $15.00, which rates as a very expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has things imprinted on the front and back, and there is a label affixed to the back. The logo of the Avalon Meat Candy has a bull’s head in the center.
Some slogans printed could be “Real Hickory Smoked” and “Crispy Angus Jerky Chips”. Some facts printed are “Spicy N’ Hot”, “Gourmet Beef Jerky”, and “Veteran Owned”.
Some missing bag categories are the jerky weight not stated in grams and a blurb printed about this jerky or flavor. Admirably, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries to the credit of Avalon Meat Candy.
Order their jerky online: www.avalonmeatcandy.com
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