Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Original

Smokehouse Jerky Co. is a brand of Tender Heifer Snack Co., based out of Beaumont, CA. It was started in 2008, and is currently run by a husband and wife team, Franco Fonseca and Patti Fonseca.

The company takes pride in its beef brisket-based jerky, using meat sourced from California. They add no MSG and no preservatives, and focus on small batches at a time.

This "Original" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as, "its mellow smoky flavor complements the jerky’s lean meat", going on to say that it's, "perfect for people who love the classic taste of beef jerky".

Ingredients

Beef, gluten free tamari sauce, water, brown sugar, minced garlic, hickory smoke, Worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, granulated garlic, ground pepper.

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is salt, but with a light sweet. The flavor of soy sauce comes into view along with a bit of garlic. The chewing brings on a light smoke while the salt increases a bit. The natural meat flavors come more noticeable towards the end.

For being described as having a "mellow smoky flavor" and "classic taste of beef jerky", it hits the mark right on. There's a smokiness to this that comes on slowly and stays mellow throughout. It's also certainly a classic beef jerky flavor for its simple seasonings of salt, pepper, and garlic.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a light soy sauce, moderately smoked, with a touch of sweet, and ample seasonings of garlic and black pepper. There's a natural meat flavor that comes on strong at the end.

The meat consistency is great for a brisket-style jerky. It has a light stringiness, but overall meaty. The chewing is generally easy, lightly moist, and tender. It has a meaty feel, and takes on a steak-like texture.

Verdict

This Original variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. ushers in a distinctly classic American jerky flavor centered around a mellow smokiness, and savory seasonings of salt, garlic, and black pepper. The soft, tender chewing makes this very snackable and lures you into wanting more. The smoky, natural meat flavors, however, is the real star of the show, and thanks to the otherwise light ingredients, allows them to come through well. If you're ever tasked with having to introduce a foreigner to American culture, you might start him on this bag of Original from Smokehouse Jerky Co, and say, "Welcome to Murica".

Rating: Good (4/5)