Clean-N-Jerky - Original

Clean-N-Jerky is a new brand of beef jerky that launched just a year ago. It was started by Mischelle Marro, a Crossfit enthusiast, based out of Colorado Springs, CO.

When one day she was diagnosed with cancer, she changed to a paleo diet of natural ingredients. A friend of hers who marketed grass-fed beef gave her the inspiration to create her own beef jerky. Today, Clean-N-Jerky uses beef from free-range cattle that feeds on Maytag grass on the foothills of the Sangre De Cristo range in Colorado. It remains gluten-free and contains no preservatives.

Clean-N-Jerky is available in two flavors as of this writing, Original and Pepper. It can purchased from a variety of fitness and healthfood stores around Colorado, and through its website.

Ingredients

Grass fed and finished beef, coconut aminos, Colorado honey, liquid smoke, himalaya salt, roasted garlic, black pepper, curing salt.

Review

The first flavor I pick up on the tongue is a moderate sweetness, followed by a light smokiness and saltiness, and a faint bit of black pepper. The chewing brings on a light natural meat flavor along with a light taste of honey.

For being the company's Original flavor, this jerky has an overall light flavor, and perhaps even a "clean" flavor which supports its brand name. It doesn't leave much of an aftertaste aside from some black pepper.

Otherwise, the ingredients that seem to dominate this jerky's flavor profile is a balance of sweet and salty, with a light liquid smoke, and a light black pepper spice. There's a light natural meat flavor that comes out in the chewing. The overall flavor actually reminds me of Lowry's Beef Jerky from the 1970's when it was sold in the canisters, except this has a bit more honey flavor. This jerky is mild in terms of spiciness,

The meat consistency is a chopped & formed variety, and pressed into thin strips. I find it easy to chew, and easy on the jaws. Once chewed down to a soft mass, it still feels meaty, like ground beef, comparable to eating a grilled hamburger patty. Being chopped & formed, I still feel small hard bits of tissues in the chewing, perhaps like bone or cartilage or who knows what. But they don't hurt my teeth, and don't take much away from the chewing experience. I also pick up a fair amount of fattiness, and can feel some fatty coating on the roof of my mouth after swallowing. There's also a light residue of oil left on my fingers.

Verdict: This Original beef jerky from Clean-N-Jerky is actually very snackable and quite enjoyable to munch on. I found myself wanting to funnel pieces of jerky into my mouth endlessly as I typed out this review. I like the honey flavor in this, and the clean feel, just as the brand name suggests. This jerky is easy to chew, and I found that it chews down quickly to where a 4oz package of this stuff can be consumed fast. Perhaps that works well for the fitness enthusiast. For jerky aficionados, this is a great snack with beer because it gives out the salty profile that makes a cold brew so great, but is easy eating and low on the spiciness.

Rating: Good