Cattaneo Bros. is a long standing, family owned jerky producer, with roots dating back to 1947 when two Italian brothers founded it on the Central Coast. Built on generations of tradition, the company has remained committed to small batch, handcrafted production methods, using whole muscle cuts of meat that are never ground or formed, and drying them slowly in hot brick smokehouse ovens to achieve a distinctive texture and flavor. Known for its clean, simple ingredient approach, Cattaneo Bros. emphasizes quality sourcing, oftenusing grass-fed beef, and avoids fillers, byproducts, and many common additives like nitrites, gluten, and excess sugar.
Over the decades, the brand has developed a loyal regional following while expanding nationally, offering a range of products including beef and turkey jerky, smoked beef sticks, and European style sausages. Today, under continued family leadership, the company blends its old world techniques with modern distribution and health conscious product innovation, maintaining a reputation for authenticity, craftsmanship, and premium meat snacks. This Cattaneo Bros. jerky brand is distributed under the name Cattaneo Bros., Inc., and is located in San Luis Obispo, California.
The first review on Cattaneo Bros. will focus on a 4 ounce/113 gram bag of Mesquite flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as being seasoned and marinated with their traditional blend of spices and apple cider vinegar, smoked in-house to impart the unique characteristics of hickory wood. The bag was purchased at a Chumash Casino Resort in Santa Ynez, California.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Apple Cider Vinegar, Water, Salt, Spices, Granulated Garlic, Sodium Nitrite.
The 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 liquid marinade is comprised of super healthy apple cider vinegar and water.
Some healthy ingredients added are spices and granulated garlic.
The sugar level is perfect at 0 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is very high at 640mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of beef jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added, as sodium nitrite is used outright to lose a rating. Admirably, this flavor does qualify to have no MSG added.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
CATTANEO BROS. – MESQUITE BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell something vinegary. The morsels are all cut into relatively small, uniform pieces. The morsels are exceptionally thick and dry, and they leave no oily residue on your fingers.
When I bite into the morsels, I taste salt at a decent level, minimal to no sweetness, the pepper flavor is pretty prominent, along with a decent level of garlic. “Mesquite” is a word I looked up on Google. I had a general idea, but I just wanted to confirm. It is a stronger, more intense version of hickory, which I do actually pick up on a hickory, or “mesquite” flavor, it is decent.
This is a reasonably tasty treat, but it lacks the “WOW!!” factor and is still quite enjoyable. A well-deserved 8.5/10, which, when rounded up, turns into a 9/10. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Mesquite beef jerky flavor from Cattaneo Bros.: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. I mainly agree with everything stated. The saltiness is arguably too high, but not enough to warrant a rating deduction. I cannot say I picked up on the taste of mesquite all that much. This flavor could have just as easily been named Original. It is true that this jerky is sliced much thicker than your average jerky.”
“The natural flavor of beef has no hint of tasting processed. The overall taste profile is simple yet effective, with a focus on the natural flavor of beef. I concur with Paul in that this jerky lacks ‘wow’ factor. This jerky was enjoyable but did not blow me away. With Paul at a 9 and myself at an 8, a Very Good (9/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 4 ounce/113 gram bag of jerky sells for $11.00. That equates to $2.75 an ounce, which rates as a cheap price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable clear plastic bag has a label affixed to the front and nothing on the back.
There are no slogans printed. Some facts printed are “Small Batch Produced”, “Since 1947”, “Family Owned + Operated”, “Fine Jerky”, “Meats”, “Dried Goods”, “Premium Handcut”, “Handcut from Solid Strips of Beef”, “Gluten Free”, “Sugar Free”. “Not a Low Calorie Food”, “No MSG”, and “Made from 100% USA Beef”.
The only missing bag category is a blurb about the company or flavor. A QR code is printed on the back.
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