Biltong USA - Peri-Peri Sliced Biltong

Biltong USA was among the earliest brands of American-made biltong, dating back to 1996. South African immigrants, Dawid Joubert and Salome Joubert founded the company in Stallings, NC based on the same family recipe that dated back into the 1600s. Over the years, their biltong products helped launched a new meat snack category in the States.

In January 2018, Biltong USA was acquired by a rival biltong brand, Stryve Foods. However, Biltong USA continues on under its own brand, and is still manufactured at its original USDA inspected facility in Stallings.

This Peri-Peri Sliced Biltong refers is the company's lean variety but seasoned with Peri-Peri, a South African style spicy seasoning made from the Piri-Piri pepper. Because Piri-Piri peppers are so difficult to find in the USA, most companies use cayenne. Biltong USA doesn't specify if this contains real Piri-Piri peppers or not. The package is also marked "Gluten Free".

Ingredients

Beef, salt, flavorings, vinegar, raisin juice concentrate

Review

The first flavors that I pick up is the coriander, followed by the vinegar. There's a light spiciness coming in. The chewing brings on the salt and a lightly noticeable raisin. The natural meat flavors become noticeable towards the end of chewing, while the Peri-Peri seasoning increases in flavor and heat.

For being marketed as "Peri-Peri" this definitely has a spicy, cayenne-like flavor with a moderate level of heat. Since I've yet to try actual Piri-Piri peppers, I can't vouch if this is genuine Peri-Peri seasoning or not. However, it does taste a lot like cayenne. I'd rate the level of heat in this as "mild medium" (level 2 out of 5).

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a classic South African-style biltong, but much more dry and lean, with a good soapy coriander and lightly tangy vinegar, and a noticeable cayenne flavor and heat.

The meat consistency is lean, dry and chewy. It's not tough; it still chews easily, but has a bit more stiffer feel than the company's "Traditional" variety, which is more fatted. It feels quite meaty, and takes on a light steak-like texture once chewed down.

Verdict

This Peri-Peri Sliced Biltong from Biltong USA adds a moderate level of heat and cayenne flavor to a more old world biltong palate and chewing, much like the company's Original Sliced Biltong we reviewed a couple weeks ago. It has that classic soapy coriander seasoning with a light tangy vinegar and salt found in most South African biltong, but goes a bit more dry and chewy thanks to its lean cuts of beef. We like the use of raisin in this to help create that vintage flavor, and we like the meaty, almost steak-like chewing in these slices. It's spicy, but not overly hot, and probably perfect for those who want a little bit of heat.

Rating: Good (4/5)