Island Jerky is different from your typical jerky. They create the best hickory wood smoked beef jerky available in British Columbia. Founded in 2013, the Smokehouse has been a local producer on Vancouver Island. They pride themselves on using the highest quality beef and spices that produce lean, actual wood smoked beef jerky. Available in Original (that is wheat free), Teriyaki (that is not sweet), and their newest flavour, Black Pepper (also wheat free) – their customers can never get enough.
Jodi Quinn and Jerry Antoniuk, owners of TWO J’s with over 25 years of experience, make Island Jerky in small hand crafted batches (which adds a subtle flavour that doesn’t overpower the high-quality beef) and has a moist, tender texture. If you are looking for an actual lean wood smoked jerky – Island Jerky will be your one and only Jerk. The Island Jerky brand name is distributed under the same name Island Jerky, and it is located in Sidney, British Columbia, Canada. This jerky is manufactured by TWO J’s Smokehouse, and is located in Sidney, British Columbia.
The next review on Island Jerky will focus on a 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of their Black Pepper flavoured beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a gas station in Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Sea Salt, Black Pepper, Spices, Sodium Erythorbate, Onion Powder, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium Nitrite, Smoke.
The cattle are believed to have partial free range access to graze on grass. The cattle are also believed to be ethically raised, meaning that the cows received no growth hormones or additional antibiotics. As a result, the ingredient rating starts at a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade consists of just plain old water.
Some healthy ingredients added are onion powder, black pepper, and spices.
The sugar level is perfect at 0 grams of sugar per 30 grams of jerky. The salt level is high at 600mg of salt per 30 grams of jerky. However, the salt level is ignored because healthy, minimally processed sea salt is used.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added as sodium nitrite is used outright, along with sodium erythorbate as preservatives to lose a rating. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
ISLAND JERKY – BLACK PEPPER BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell natural beef, and nothing else. The jerky consists of one giant strip, cut to a medium thickness. You can see the pepper adhering to the jerky strip. The jerky is not quite dry, and it leaves an ever so slight oily residue on your fingertips.
When I bite into the jerky I taste salt, at a high level, but well within reason to me. I also taste mild sweet, along with garlic and slight onion. The pepper is coming through quite well, which is as intense as the salt flavour. Overall, the salt and the pepper are carrying the flavour, and it is ridiculously tasty. It is hitting the “WOW” factor, I am sincerely enjoying it. Therefore, a definitive 10/10 it is.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Black Pepper beef jerky flavour from Island Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the upbeat taste review. We do not quite see eye to eye here. I agree that the saltiness is at strong level, but the black pepper is not as intense. The pepper is at a good level though, being acceptable for a flavour name with black pepper in its name. I would not say the sweetness is at a mild level, where there is little to no sweetness present.”
“Apart from the peppered and saltiness, there is not much else going on. The garlic and onion are at faint levels. The natural beef flavour is at a good level, with no hint whatsoever of tasting processed. While Paul and I traditionally have difficulty detecting the taste of smoke, I can concede that there is a ‘foreign’ taste in the background. With myself at an 8 rating and Paul at a 10 rating, a Very Good (9/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.8 ounce/80 gram bag of jerky is advertised at $9.00. That works out to $3.19 an ounce, which rates as an average price.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This plastic bag has everything imprinted on the front and nothing on the back. The Island Jerky logo depicts an illustration of the sun. This bag is vacuum sealed, which is the best way to keep the jerky fresh tasting.
A slogan printed could be “A Sidney BC Company”. Some facts printed on this bag are “100% Canadian Beef Jerky” and “Wheat Free”.
Some missing bag categories are a blurb about the jerky or flavour as well as distributor address details. As per Canadian law, French translations are provided. To the credit of Island Jerky, a phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
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