Bavarian Meats specializes in traditional German style sausages and smoked meats, with roots dating back to 1961, when German immigrant Max Hofstatter founded the company. While Bavarian Meats produces a variety of sausages, cold cuts, and smoked meats, the brand is best known for its Landjaeger, a traditional German style semi dry sausage made from beef and pork. Its Landjaeger is naturally fermented, hardwood smoked, and dry cured, giving it the firm texture and smoky, savory character associated with this style of meat snack.
Bavarian Meats offers its traditional Landjaeger in both full size and smaller Lil’ Landjaeger snack sticks, along with Hot & Spicy versions. The brand also has a long Seattle history, having operated a German deli at Pike Place Market for nearly 60 years before closing the retail location in 2020. Today, Bavarian Meats continues to bring its German sausage making traditions to the meat snack market, with Landjaeger as one of its signature products.
The Bavarian Meats Landjaeger brand is distributed under the same name, Bavarian Meats, located in Kent, Washington. This Landjaeger is manufactured by Oberto Snacks Inc., which is also located in Kent, Washington.
The first review for Bavarian Meats will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their Original flavored Landjaeger. This bag was purchased at a Pilot gas station in Sulphur, Kentucky.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Pork, Water, Salt, Dextrose*, Vinegar, Spices, Cultured Celery Powder, Paprika, Lactic Acid Starter Culture, Garlic Powder, in Beef Collagen Casing. * Adds a Negligible Amount of Sugar.
The pork used is guaranteed to be raised ethically with no antibiotics and no added hormones. This pork is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam outside. The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones. 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.
Some healthy ingredients are added, such as spices, paprika, and garlic powder.
The sugar level is perfect at 0 grams of sugar per 28 grams of Landjaeger. The salt level is quite high at 520mg of salt per 28 grams of Landjaeger to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or under per 28 grams of Landjaeger.
Commendably, this Landjaeger has no sodium nitrite added, or any other similar unhealthy preservative. Instead, it uses salt as the main preservative. Admirably, this Landjaeger qualifies to have no MSG added.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
BAVARIAN MEATS – ORIGINAL LANDJAEGER
Written by guest Landjaeger reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell vinegar, quite strong, and not much else. The meat stick is not unlike other meat sticks, and this meat stick is sort of the shape of a cigarillo. It is regular in shape and thickness. There is no oily residue, and the meat stick seems rather rigid.
When I bite into the meat stick, I am exceptionally impressed by the texture and the fact that there is a very noticeable “snap” to the collagen casing. This meat stick is kicking the proverbial “crap” out of most other meat sticks. “This stick is crazy slick!!” A good slogan for this addictive meat stick.
I taste salt at a very manageable level, noticeable but not stealing the spotlight, minimal to no sweetness, solid pepper and garlic, as well as slight onion in the background. A myriad of delectable flavors emanate from this ridiculously tasty meat stick. I can find absolutely nothing wrong with this particular purchase. It is impressing me to the nth degree, a definitive 10/10, crazy tasty. Two very impressed thumbs up!!
Written by guest Landjaeger reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The Bavarian Meats Original Lil’ Landjaeger is on point and shines at every single level. The first thing to strike me is how clean the taste is, and each bite really is. That speaks to high quality and Tender Loving Care. The smokiness adds some delicious notes, and the splash of Acidity really elevates the flavor profile to the next level.
These meat sticks are rich in flavor, well balanced, and the saltiness is at a perfect level.
The Bavarian Meats Original Lil’ Landjaeger is consistent in flavor, and this meat stick tastes like more. I rate this tasty little gem 10/10 Taste Rating.
PS. I wanted to mention Paul in my review with “This meat stick tastes like more”. I believe Paul coined this phrase. It is clever and highly appropriate, especially for a meat stick with this level of deliciousness. I tip my hat to you, Sir!
Here is what Mark had to say about this Original Landjaeger flavor from Bavarian Meats: “Thanks Paul and Stéphane for the glowing taste reviews. Unfortunately, our mascot dog Lexi ate my two Lil’ Landjaeger sticks. I did manage to try a small piece. The one thing that stood out to me was the strong flavor of vinegar. Not that vinegar is a listed ingredient, but lactic acid starter culture produces a sour flavor that closely resembles vinegar. Also, the ‘snap’ of the texture is bang on.”
“I did not consume enough of this Landjaeger to give an honest rating, so I will abstain from weighing in with my rating. With Paul and Stéphane at a no doubter, slam dunk 10, an Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 3 ounce/85 gram bag of Landjaeger cost $6.29. That equates to $2.10 per ounce, which classifies as an average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear, non-resealable plastic bag has everything printed on front and back. The Bavarian Meats logo depicts a dragon breathing fire.
A slogan printed on this bag could be “No Compromises”. Some facts printed are “Est 1961”, “Smoked Meat Snacks”, “9g Protein”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, “Zero Sugar”, “MSG and Gluten Free”, “No Fillers”, and “No Nitrates or Nitrites Added”.
Some missing bag categories include the Landjaeger weight not stated in grams and a blurb about the Landjaeger brand or flavor.
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