Florence Meats is a family owned butcher shop and meat producer with a history spanning more than four decades. Founded by Slovenian born butcher Mario Goriup and his wife Maria, the business blends European butchery traditions with South African influences developed during Mario’s 25 years operating a butcher shop in South Africa. Today, the second generation family business is led by Damian Goriup and his wife Carol, who continue the company’s commitment to sourcing premium meats from Southern Ontario farms and producing small batch, handcrafted products.
Florence Meats is especially well known for its authentic South African style biltong, which is made from premium Ontario beef, seasoned with a proprietary blend of spices, and air dried rather than smoked. Their sugar free, gluten free, nitrate free biltong has become one of the company’s signature products, reflecting a dedication to traditional methods, high quality ingredients, and authentic South African flavour. This Florence Meats biltong brand is distributed under the same name Florence Meats, and is located in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
The next review of Florence Meats will focus on a 3.5 ounce/100 gram bag of their Peri Peri flavoured beef biltong. This bag was purchased at the Florence Meats store in Oakville, Ontario, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Salt, Spices, Mustard
The beef is from small, local Southern Ontario farms and ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle have partial free range access to roam 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.
There is no liquid marinade used, which some people refer to as a dry rub.
Some healthy ingredients added are spices and mustard.
Admirably, there is no sugar used in this jerky. The salt level is acceptable at 490mg of salt per 50 grams of biltong.
This biltong does qualify to have no sodium nitrite. Instead, sea salt is the main preservative used. Admirably, this biltong has no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
FLORENCE MEATS – PERI PERI BILTONG
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell biltong. It must be coriander I’m smelling, because I believe coriander is in all biltong. I smell nothing else. The biltong is smallish in size, and it leaves some oily residue on your fingers.
When I bite into the biltong, I taste salt at a great level and pepper, it sure seems like I am tasting it. Garlic is light, I believe I am also tasting the coriander, and, without a doubt, I am absolutely tasting the delicious flavour of peri peri, it is coming through in spades.
Overall, this flavour of biltong has hit a grand slam, a no-doubter 10/10. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Peri Peri beef jerky flavor from Florence Meats: “Thanks Paul for the glowing taste review. It is hard to disagree with anything stated. Surprisingly not mentioned by Paul is that the heat is at a good level. The heat would rate a 2 out of 5 or a 2 out of 4 on a heat scale. One aspect of being air dried, the texture has a somewhat shiny look and feel.”
“The natural flavor of beef has no hint of tasting processed. While the overall taste profile is relatively simple, there is a fantastic blend of spices that tastes downright delicious. I have zero complaints about this biltong and only praise. My portion was gone in no time, as it tastes like MORE. A no-brainer, Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded. Take a bow Florence Meats, a very enthusiastic two thumbs up!!👍👍”
This 3.5 ounce/100 gram bag of biltong was sold for $14.99. That works out to $4.28 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This non-resealable paper bag has a label affixed to the front and everything imprinted on the back. There is a sticker on the front that says “1st Place from the Royal Agriculture Winter Fair“.
A slogan printed on this bag could be “Premium quality since 1997”. Some facts printed are “South African Style”, “Ready to Eat”, “Premium Air Dried Beef”, “Sliced”, “Handmade in Oakville, Ontario”, and “No Sugar/Nitrates/MSG/Gluten”.
Some missing bag categories are a slit to easily open this bag, French translations, and graphics. A great blurb on the back explains biltong. To the credit of Florence Meats, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
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