Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Savage Jerky

savage jerky
Savage Jerky Co. is a new brand of jerky produced by Brad and Michelle Summey out of Washington DC. We previously reviewed their jerky under the name "Brave Jerky" while they were still in fundraising mode.

We're re-reviewing the jerky based on the new name and packaging, and since their jerky is now shipping, we can assign ratings.

Savage Jerky is based on a unique Cuban marinade recipe that mixes together garlic, lime, and cilantro. Currently, they are shipping four varieties, Mojo, Mojo Jalerrano, Mojo Habanero, and Ghost Pepper Buffalo.

Mojo

cuban beef jerky
Ingredients: Beef, lime juice, water, orange juice, lemon juice, molasses, sea salt, brown sugar, garlic, onion, black pepper, powdered garlic, cilantro, coriander, oregano.

There's an immediate hit of oregano with a tangy lemon, lime, and coriander that soon follows. The chewing brings on a light sweet, along with a light black pepper, and touches of garlic.

The flavors that seem to define this jerky starts with the oregano, but the lemon, lime, and coriander takes over and creates the dominant taste profile. A flavor resembling vinegar is noticeable, along with the black pepper. It's a bit spicy in terms of heat, I think due to the black pepper. I'd rate this mild-medium (level 2 out of 5) on my personal heat scale.

It's a very intense flavored jerky where the seasonings really define the taste. Imagine a lot of lemon and lime citrus, along with the pungent coriander and oregano, with a bit of sweet and a lot of tang. Unlike most other brands of jerky that rely on savory base of soy sauce and/or worcestershire, this jerky uses the seasonings and citrus as its base. It reminds me eating carne asada but with more citrus intensity.

The meat consistency seems good, mostly all meat, though I do encounter a fair amount of stringiness, some of which mats down into unchewable wads. But otherwise, it's quite tender and soft, and has a very meaty chewing texture, somewhat steak-like.

Rating: Best

Mojo Jalerrano

jalapeno jerky
Ingredients: Beef, lime juice, water, orange juice, lemon juice, molasses, sea salt, brown sugar, garlic, onion, black pepper, powdered garlic, cilantro, coriander, oregano, cayenne pepper, jalapeno pepper, paprika, chipotle morita powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, tumeric

The first flavors to come is a light sweet, followed by blends of chile peppers, a touch of cumin, and the citrusy lime. The heat starts to build up quick. The chewing brings on more of the chile pepper, particularly the jalapeno and cayenne. There's some lighter oregano and coriander going on.

The flavors that define this jerky is largely the chile pepper flavors with the lemon and lime citrus behind it. Behind that is the sweet, oregano, and coriander. The ingredients combine really well in this jerky, giving off a lot of the natural chile pepper flavors and heat, but supplementing them with tasty flavors of citrus, spice, and sweet.

It's quite a bit more hot. On my personal heat scale, I'd rate this as medium-hot (level 4 out of 5).

Like with the Mojo, the meat consistency is mostly good with some stringiness. I found these piece a little more chewy than the Mojo, a little more gummy, but still having a meaty-texture.

Rating: Best

Mojo Habanero

habanero jerky
Ingredients: Beef, lime juice, water, orange juice, lemon juice, molasses, sea salt, brown sugar, garlic, onion, black pepper, powdered garlic, cilantro, coriander, oregano, cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, paprika, chipotle morita powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, tumeric.

The flavor of habanero chiles comes on right away in this, followed by a light sweet, and touches of oregano and coriander. The habanero heat ramps up quickly. I can also pick up the lemon and lime citrus. There's a bit of black pepper noticeable too, along with hints of cumin.

The taste profile is largely defined by the natural hababero chile flavor, with the lighter lemon, lime citrus and sweet. The oregano, coriander and black pepper are noticeable in smaller amounts. This Mojo Habanero is much like the Mojo Jalerrano, but with the more distinguishable habanero chile flavor. It's also more hot, registering on my personal heat scale as "hot" (level 5 out of 5).

The meat consistency is also much like the Mojo Jalerrano, chewy but still overall easy to eat, with meaty, though not quite steak-like, chewing texture.

Rating: Best

Ghost Pepper Buffalo

ghost pepper jerky
Ingredients: Beef, hot sauce, brown sugar, cider vinegar, black pepper, sea salt, chipotle chili pepper, habanero powder, ghost pepper, lime juice, cayenne pepper, smoked paprika, molasses, garlic powder, chipotle morita powder, cayenne pepper, cumin, tumeric.

This is not buffalo jerky, but buffalo wing sauce flavored.

The first flavor is a chile pepper flavor, much like habanero or ghost pepper, along with the hot sauce. The hot sauce is comparable to a classic buffalo wing sauce. There's a moderate sweetness, touches of cumin and black pepper, and light smokiness. The heat builds up quickly.

The primary taste profile is that of buffalo wing sauce but bolstered with a strong chile pepper flavor, comparable to habanero or ghost pepper. It's sweetened up, and touched with some smokiness, cumin, and black pepper, and perhaps light amounts of citrus tang. It actually generates a lot of good flavor. If you like buffalo wing sauce, but want it more hot, with a strong dose of natural chile pepper flavor, this stuff is it.

It's quite hot, registering on my personal heat scale at "hot" (level 5 out of 5), but I think the Mojo Habanero is actually a touch more hot than this.

The meat also seems a little more tender and moist than the Mojo Jalerrano and Mojo Habanero, but still has a meaty chew.

Rating: Best

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