Monday, October 17, 2022

Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Spicy Sweet

smokehouse jerky co
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 "Spicy Sweet" variety is described by Smokehouse Jerky Co as having, "...just the right amount of jalapeño to give it some kick", going on to saying that it has a, "...sweet and spicy taste that’s not too overwhelming".

Ingredients

Beef, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, hot sauce, fresh jalapenos, pineapple, worcestershire sauce, lemon juice, granulated garlic, ground pepper, ginger

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is sweet, followed by a noticeable teriyaki sauce, and ginger seasoning. The chewing brings on a bit more teriyaki definition, while the ginger increases a bit. There's a light heat that starts to rise, while the jalapeno slowly comes on. A light natural meat flavor finishes the chewing.

For being marketed as, "Spicy Sweet", and described as having the "right amount of jalapeno kick", I'd say it holds up fine. I do indeed taste the jalapeno, but it takes a few bites and chews before you notice it. There's a touch of heat, but it's too light to be concerned about. At best, I'd rate it as "mild medium" on our heat scale (2/5). The sweetness is right there, it's definitely not too sweet, but just significant enough to warrant the description.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a sweet teriyaki sauce, with a noticeable ginger bite, and a light jalapeno flavor and heat that slowly comes on. You get some natural meat flavors at the latter part of chewing, and even the soy sauce in the teriyaki tends to intensify as the sweetness wears off.

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

Verdict

This Spicy Sweet variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. delivers a light spicy heat with a fair amount of jalapeno flavor over a sweet teriyaki sauce to create an enjoyable variation on and old favorite. It's not overly sweet, but significant enough to warrant the name. Meanwhile, it's not just the jalapeno heat, but the flavor of jalapeno that makes this more gourmet than the domestic brands. You get a tender, semi-moist meat consistency that's easy to chew and bursts with flavor. I love the stronger ginger seasoning in this, which helps increase the spiciness.

Rating: Good (4/5)


sweet spicy jerky

sweet spicy jerky




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