Mingua Beef Jerky is a family owned jerky company that has been making beef jerky since 1994. Founded by farmer Ronnie Mingua, the company began after he experimented with making jerky at home and eventually perfected a recipe that became a local favorite. Mingua continues to make its jerky using whole cuts of beef that are hand sliced, marinated, and thin cut before being dried. The company emphasizes its old fashioned approach, with no artificial preservatives or fillers, while using sodium as a natural means of preservation.
Its lineup includes Original, Hot, Cajun, BBQ, Sweet & Hot, Garlic & Onion, Bourbon, and Teriyaki flavors, along with shredded beef jerky. The Original remains the brand’s foundation, delivering a thin, chewy texture and a distinctly savory, smoky flavor. What started as a small family operation on a Kentucky farm has grown into a nationally distributed brand while remaining a multigenerational family business.
This Mingua Beef Jerky brand is distributed under the same name Mingua Beef Jerky, located in Paris, Kentucky. This jerky is manufactured under the name Mingua Brothers Beef Jerky and is located in Paris, Kentucky.
The first review on Mingua Beef Jerky will focus on a 3.5 ounce/99 gram bag of their Garlic & Onion flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as not for the shy snacker, big on garlic, and even bigger on taste that is bold, sharp, and proud to linger. The bag was purchased at a Shell gas station in Medina, Ohio.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Soy Sauce (Water, Salt, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Corn Syrup, Caramel Color, Potassium Sorbate – Preservative), Brown Sugar, Granulated Garlic, Granulated Onion, Liquid Smoke. Allergen Warnings: Soy
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 just a poor brand of soy sauce and liquid smoke.
The only healthy ingredients added are granulated garlic and granulated onion.
The sugar level is good at 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is sky high at 800mg 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 qualify to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added because the cheap, highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used in the soy sauce to lose a rating.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
MINUAGA BEEF JERKY – GARLIC & ONION BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell very little, maybe a slight vinegar smell. The pieces are medium in size and sliced rather thin. The jerky is relatively rigid and dry, very close to what our forefathers intended. There is no oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky, I immediately taste intense salt, higher than usual, but I personally like it. I taste mild sweetness, at best, another plus. The garlic and onion are coming through in spades, as well as the pepper, a very intense melting pot of deliciousness. Full disclosure, this is an impeccable combination of ridiculously tasty flavors, a complete medley.
Gentlemen, this is a no doubt, easy decision 10/10.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Garlic & Onion beef jerky flavor from Mingua Beef Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the glowing taste review. It would be hard to disagree with anything stated. As Paul mentioned, the saltiness is at a strong level. Sometimes saltiness can overpower me, but not in this case, where it’s just a solid level of salt. Garlic based flavors have always intrigued me, and this flavor doesn’t disappoint. While the garlic flavor is at a moderate to strong level, it is the onion flavor impresses me most, and it is even higher. It is reminiscent of my homemade jerky, where I favor high levels of garlic and onion.”
“Again as Paul mentioned, the level of sweetness is minimal, which is appreciated. The natural beef flavor does not taste processed in any way. In the background, the soy flavor is at a medium to moderate level, and the smoke flavor is at a light to mild level. The overall taste profile is somewhat simple but works in wondrous ways with its old fashioned tough, and dry texture that is sliced along the grain.”
“This flavor is downright delicious, and I struggled not to consume my portion in one sitting. A unanimous Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded. Take a bow Mingua Beef Jerky, a very enthusiastic two thumbs up!!👍👍”
A 3.5 ounce/99 gram bag of jerky sells online for $9.99, which equates to $2.85 an ounce. That rates as a cheap price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This green plastic resealable bag has everything imprinted on the bag on the front and back with no labels affixed. There are high resolution pictures of jerky strips on the front and back. The Mingua Beef Jerky logo is a bull dressed in pants, a belt, and boots with a nose ring.
There are no slogans printed. Some facts printed are “80 Calories”, “14g Protein”, “2g Fat”, “3g Carbs”, “Smoke Flavor Added”, “Contains No Nitrates”, “Natural Style”, and “Made from a Solid Piece of Beef”.
Some missing bag categories are a transparent window to view the jerky and a best before date. A lot number is provided, which could translate to a best before date. To the credit of Mingua Beef Jerky, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
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