The Smokehouse Jerky Co. brand name was launched in 2008. On January 2/2017, Franco and his wife Patti Fonseca acquired Smokehouse Jerky Co. from Trent Levinson and his wife Barbie. Franco has since added some new flavors, and they have a new web site design. All Smokehouse Jerky Co. jerky is made in small batches. Tender Heifer Snack Co. are always looking for new distributors across the United States, and they offer private label services, most notably for Knott’s Berry Farm. This jerky is manufactured and distributed by Tender Heifer Snack Co., and they are based out of Beaumont, California.
The next review on Smokehouse Jerky Co. will focus on a 3 ounce/84 gram bag of their Korean Barbecue flavored beef brisket jerky. This Korean Barbecue flavor is one of their more recent flavors introduced. The flavor is described as showcasing the use of Korean barbecue sauce as a main ingredient – then blended it up with a few more spices, and created it according to their old fashion recipe to bring the best out of this snack. This jerky was graciously submitted for review by one of the owners, Patti Fonseca.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Gluten Free Soy Sauce (Water, Sugar, Soybeans, Salt), White Sugar, Brown Sugar, Sesame Oil, Sugar, Honey, Garlic Puree, Granulated Garlic, Granulated Onion, Sesame Seeds, Green Onion, Ground Black Pepper, Liquid Hickory Smoke, Ground Ginger, Mustard Powder, Allspice. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Sesame
This brisket cut of beef used is from cattle raised in California. Brisket is considered to be one of the best cuts of beef to use for jerky. 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 used here is comprised of a good gluten-free soy sauce, healthy honey, very healthy sesame oil, and liquid hickory smoke.
There are multiple healthy ingredients added such as garlic puree, granulated garlic, granulated onion, sesame seeds, green onion, ground black pepper, ground ginger, mustard powder, and allspice.
The sugar level is extremely high at 11 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. For a sweet based flavor as we have here, our preference is 5 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 590 grams of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose another rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky qualifies to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservative. Instead, salt is the main preservative used. With more kudos to Smokehouse Jerky Co., this jerky has no MSG added.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The aroma of the Smokehouse Jerky Co. Korean Barbecue with its nuttiness from the sesame seeds is really pleasant. This sweet flavor has a noticeable nuttiness again from the sesame seeds and oil. This paired with mild soy and a more accentuated taste of garlic and onion add great taste to this already delectable flavor profile.
Someone may argue this jerky is a tad too sweet but it is still at a reasonable level and it is not “off putting” in anyway. The sweetness is somewhat to be expected from a Korean Barbecue flavor and we wish to forewarn any reader of this potential concern.
These jerky strips are between small and medium in size and they are sliced medium in thickness. This brisket is soft, tender and it is fairly easy to chew. Although some significant fat can be noticed on some pieces, it does enhance the natural flavor of beef. These chunks or pieces of fat may be a slight turn off to some, as most people don’t usually consume cold fat or seldom find it on jerky. While having said that, these strips do leave some residue on the fingers after handling.
This Smokehouse Jerky Co. Korean Barbecue Brisket Beef Jerky does have an interesting Asian flair and there is no denying that this jerky is jam packed with flavor. The brisket cut is well known to be a great cut of beef and a favorable medium to carry maximum flavor from the marinade.
This flavor will certainly be a favorite among Korean Barbecue fans with a bit of a sweet tooth. This wonderful jerky is really tasty and we had no qualms polishing this jerky in minutes. This jerky deserves a Very Good (9/10) taste rating.
Once again, Smokehouse Jerky Co. did not disappoint and they’ve hit this one out of the park once again.
This 3 ounce/84 gram bag of jerky sells online for 7.99. That works out to $2.67 an ounce, which rates as an average price. Commendably, free shipping is offered on all orders over $25.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has a label affixed on the front, and nothing on the back. The label has a fairly detailed picture of a wooden shack with a “Jerky Co.” sign.
Some facts printed on this bags are “Old Fashion Recipe”, “No Added MSG”, “No Added Preservatives”, “Made in U.S.A.”, “Old Fashion”, “Gluten Free”, “Natural Smoke Flavoring Added”, and “Brisket”.
All bag categories are covered but one. There is no blurb printed about Smokehouse Jerky Co. or Tender Heifer Snack Co.
The bag listed at the bottom is a sample 1oz/28 gram bag of this Korean Barbecue flavor also kindly submitted for review.
Order their jerky online: www.smokehousejerkyco.com
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