In 1997, a band of three young, small-time crooks developed a recipe for a highly potent substance that went by the street name “Jerky”. Within weeks, jerky flooded the streets of Chester Counter, PA. The gang was moving 10 kilos a week – pushing in the back alleys, the street corners, and the recess yards. Supply couldn’t keep up with demand, and the boys got sloppy. In the fall of ’98, a deal went awry in the ninth grade hallway bathroom when a teacher caught the boy’s mid-chew. The three received four harrowing hours of after-school detention without parole.
While on the inside, they conspired with a cellmate who went by the name of “G-off”, a notorious carnivore known for two things: a distribution network that stretched from Brazil to British Columbia and an insatiable thirst for meat. It was this unlikely cellmate-ship that would ultimately change the course of jerky trafficking and American history forever. This Righteous Felon jerky brand is distributed under the name Righteous Felon, LLC., and it is located in West Chester, Pennsylvania.
The next review on Righteous Felon will focus on a 2 ounce/56.7 gram bag of Teriyaki Balboa flavored beef jerky. This flavor is described as having a left hook of pepper and a body jab of tamari sauce being sesame infused with an umami uppercut to win the day. The bag was purchased at a Wawa gas station in Hereford, Pennsylvania.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Teriyaki Sauce (Tamari Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol), Water, Organic Sugar, Organic Honey, Sake (Water, Rice, Salt), Apple Cider Vinegar, Garlic Puree (Garlic, Water), Rice Vinegar, Ginger Puree (Ginger, Water, Salt), Plum Juice Concentrate, Inactive Yeast, Canola Oil, Arrowroot, Xanthan Gum, Spices), Tamari Sauce (Water, Soybeans, Salt, Alcohol), Paprika, Onion, Natural Smoke Flavor, Spices, Chili Powder, Sea Salt, Cloves. Allergen Warnings: Soy
This black angus beef is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle are guaranteed to have some free range access to roam about and graze on grass the way nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of a good brand of teriyaki sauce, which includes a respected brand of tamari soy sauce, organic honey, somehwat healthy sake, apple cider vinegar, and healthy rice vinegar.
Some healthy ingredients added are garlic, paprika, onion, spices, chili powder, garlic puree, ginger puree and cloves.
The sugar level is a little high at 6 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 5 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky for a sweet based flavor, as we have here. The salt level is acceptable at 320mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
As advertised, this jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservatives used are salt and vinegar to a lesser extent. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
RIGHTEOUS FELON – TERIYAKI BALBOA BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell teriyaki. The jerky is medium to large in size, and it is sliced rather thin. The jerky is too soft for my liking. There is a slight oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky I am, without a shadow of a doubt, tasting the unmistakable flavor of teriyaki. As Mark stated earlier, it has a very bold taste. I taste salt, at a mild level, sweet, more than I would like, but well within reason, mild pepper, mild garlic, and onion, along with the taste of natural beef.
I realize I am not the biggest fan of teriyaki, it is too sweet typically for my liking, but, without my personal bias, I must say it is bang on, not to mention bold, but I can go no higher than a 9/10, because of the soft texture, but I am more inclined to rate it an 8/10.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Teriyaki Balboa beef jerky flavor from Righteous Felon: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. This teriyaki flavor is indeed bold tasting. The sweetness is within reason, and there is some Asian flair. My portion was gone in no time, and I found this jerky very addictive, even though I am not a huge fan of teriyaki. The natural beef flavor is at a great level, and the overall taste profile is very well-balanced.”
“I think that Paul is being too harsh here with his bias against a teriyaki flavor. I have zero complaints with this flavor and tip my hat to Righteous Felon for this creation. With Paul at an 8 rating and myself at a 10, a Very Good (9/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2 ounce/56.7 gram bag of jerky sells for $6.99, which equates to $3.50 an ounce. That rates as an average price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This brown paper colored bag has everything imprinted on it, both on the front and back. There are no labels affixed to this bag. The Righteous Felon logo has a cow with an eye patch getting a mug shot.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed are “Smoke Flavor Added”, “Tangy Teriyaki with a Punch of Pepper”, “Minimally Processed”, “No Artificial Ingredients”, “Gluten Free”, “All Natural”, “20g Protein”, “Craft Jerky”, and “Made in America”. All of the Righteous Felon jerky flavors are listed on the back. A portion of proceeds go to The Conservative Alliance to help protect America’s wild places.
The only missing bag category is a transparent window to view the jerky. A great blurb about Righteous Felon is displayed on the back. The @rightesoufelon handle is displayed along with a #writeyourownrules hashtag. A QR code is displayed on the back, linking to Righteous rewards and discounts.
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