The next review on Black Tiger premium jerky will focus on a 3 ounce/85 gram bag of their The Legend Spicy beef jerky flavor. This jerky was graciously submitted by the Black Tiger team.
The Black Tiger premium jerky brand name is manufactured and distributed by Black Tiger LLC. They are based out of La Mirada, California. This company was founded by health and culinary enthusiasts with a mission to provide a healthy, exciting and new snacking experience. Their defining words are RARE, BOLD, and EXOTIC.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Barbecue Sauce [Water, Soy Sauce (Soybean, Caramel Color, Salt, Water), Sugar, Salt, Garlic, Monosodium Glutamate, Caramel Color, Black Pepper, Citric Acid, Disodium Inosinate Guanylate, Sodium Benzoate], Brown Sugar, Water, Garlic Powder, Crushed Chili Peppers, Spices, Lime Juice, Liquid Smoke, Vinegar, Celery Salt, Sea Salt. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
The beef used is sourced from US brokers and farms. It has been confirmed that the beef used is ethically raised, meaning no growth hormones or additional antibiotics are given to the cattle.
The liquid marinade consists of barbecue sauce, water, lime juice, liquid smoke, and vinegar. For a hot type of flavor, it is interesting to see that lime juice is used, which helps offset the spiciness.
The heat in this flavor comes from crushed chili peppers. As a general rule, hot peppers are healthy if eaten in moderation. The always healthy spices are also used.
The sugar level is a bit high at 4 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or under. The salt level is somewhat high at 352mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
True to their words, there are no unhealthy preservatives added. Instead, celery salt with its naturally occurring nitrates are used as the main preservative. It is also very much appreciate that sea salt is used, which contains many minerals, and is much less refined than regular table salt.
It is unfortunate to see that the barbecue sauce contains monosodium glutamate (MSG). Disodium Inosinate Guanylate is used also, which works in conjunction with MSG to enhance the flavor that much more.
Decent (7/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These are large, borderline thick strips of beef. This jerky does have a dry, good texture, where chewing this jerky is mainly easy. There are no visible signs of fat anywhere, and there is almost no oily residue left on your fingers while handling this jerky.
The first taste detected is the slight tartness, or tanginess from the lime juice. Not too long afterward the heat level starts to settle in. As more strips are consumed, the spiciness levels off, and stays at about 2 or 3 out of 5 in terms of heat level. The moderately sweet taste from the brown sugar counteracts the spiciness, and this jerky does not taste overly salty. Overall, a very pleasant flavor, with a light soy and smoked flavor in the background.
A 3 ounce/85 gram bag costs $8.00 online. That works out to $2.67 an ounce, which translates to an expensive price. Considering the quality jerky we have here, Black Tiger premium jerky is well worth your money. Plus they have free shipping on all US orders.
Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
We have a fairly common resealable plastic bag here. There is a label affixed to the front, and nothing on the back.
On the label is quite a fancy drawing of a tiger with its mouth wide open. The artwork quality is excellent. The logo is quite interesting, with what looks like two lions with serpent shaped bodies that have crowns above their heads. It looks mythological, and has a “B” and a “T” in a very fancy font, denoting Black Tiger.
Slogans printed on this bag are “Rare”, “Bold”, “Exotic”, “Liquid Smoke Added”, “Natural Style”, “Low Fat”, “High Protein”, “Premium Cuts”, and “The Famous Spicy version of our signature recipe.”
All bag categories are covered here with one very minor exception. The jerky weight is not stated in grams. High marks are deserved to whomever does the artwork for Black Tiger.
The Legend Spicy beef jerky bag listed at the bottom was purchased in Los Angeles, California, at a convenience store for $5.99 back in 2011. The only difference is that sodium nitrite was used in 2011, where today it has been replaced with celery salt and sea salt.
Order their jerky online: www.blacktigerjerky.com
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