Superior Meats is a family-owned company founded in 1994 by husband and wife Mike and Krisztina DeMaria in Barrie, Ontario. They specialize in top-quality artisan-style traditional European dry-cured meat products and imported cheeses. What sets Superior Meats apart is their passion and commitment to giving their customers the best of the best in artisan meats, challenging to find cheeses, and unique gifts. Their mission is to provide you with specialty meats created by master artisans using traditional methods in modern facilities. Superior Meats carry on the DeMaria family tradition passed down from generation to generation started by Giuseppe (Joe) DeMaria in Siderno, Italy. This jerky is distributed under the name of Superior Meats and Bakery Ltd., and it is located in Barrie, Ontario, Canada.
The next review on Superior Meats will focus on a 4.4 ounce/125 gram bag of their authentic dry flavoured beef jerky. This flavour is described as having a dry and lean texture complemented by simple salt and black pepper to showcase top quality beef’s flavour. The bag was kindly submitted for review by co-owner, Krisztina DeMaria.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Salt, Sugar, Garlic Powder, Sodium Nitrite, Sodium Bicarbonate (
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have 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 only liquid marinade listed is water.
Some healthy ingredients added are garlic powder and spices.
The sugar level is acceptable at 1 gram of sugar per 15 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 460mg of salt per 15 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is around 210mg of salt per 15 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added as sodium nitrite is used outright as a preservative to lose a rating. Commendably, this jerky certainly does qualify to have no MSG added.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
SUPERIOR MEATS – AUTHENTIC DRY BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I smell very little. The strips are large and are sliced thin. They almost look exactly like bacon strips. The jerky is hard and quite tough to rip apart. There is no oily residue left on your fingers handling these strips.
The first flavours I encounter are salt, pepper, next to no sweet (a relief), garlic, onion, and copious amounts of natural beef.
This beef jerky is about as close to how our forefathers originally made it. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that this jerky has been cryogenically preserved through the generations to arrive at this point finally.
I am ‘Supremely’ enjoying this jerky, it is very delectable. “Game Of Thrones”, “Vikings” and “The Last Kingdom” probably also endorse this primitive brand and flavour, and I mean that in the nicest way possible.
My only ‘beef’ (no pun intended) with this jerky is that my teeth are labouring immensely to bite into these tasty meat treats, but I am not willing or able to justify docking a point because this is the way jerky strips should be.
A very emphatic, no-doubter 18 thumbs up, this jerky is “da bomb”. It’s a 10/10 gentlemen.
P.S. – this jerky is even better consumed with beer. 😜👍🍺
Here is what Mark had to say about this authentic dry beef jerky flavor from Superior Meats: “Thanks Paul for the fantastic, enthusiastic, creative taste review. Of all the people who tried this jerky, I seemed to be the only one who did not share Paul’s view here. True that this texture is very dry and tough, but that is how it’s advertised so no problem there. Personally, I thought there was not enough ‘wow’ factor and being somewhat too salty tasting. Otherwise, this is a good old fashioned tasting jerky.”
“Due to COVID-19, we are down to four members of the Group of Seven. Stéphane was impressed with this flavor, but he seemed to be the only person to find the beef to be gamey tasting. Mark M. enjoyed the flavour but was pretty surprised at how tough this jerky was to chew. With myself at an 8 taste rating, a Very Good (9/10) taste rating seems warranted.”
This 4.4 ounce/125 gram bag of jerky cost $14.00. That works out to $3.18 an ounce, which rates at an expensive price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This non-resealable clear plastic bag has a label affixed to the front and nothing on the back.
A slogan printed on this bag as stated in the Superior Meats logo is “Established 1994. The only fact printed on this bag is “Product of Canada”.
Some bag categories missing are the jerky weight stated, best before date, bar code, and a blurb about Superior Meats or this flavour. To the credit of Superior Meats, a toll-free phone number is provided for customer inquiries. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided.
Order their jerky online: www.superiormeats.ca
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