Smokehouse Jerky Co. - Mango Habanero

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 "Mango Habanero" variety is described by the company as, "juicy mangoes paired with some hot habanero peppers", going on to say that it's a, "fruity-hot treat".

Ingredients

Beef, mango, brown sugar, apple cider vinegar, honey, fresh habaneros, minced garlic, seasoned salt, ginger, sea salt, granulated onion, habanero powder, coriander, turmeric, cumin.

Review

The first flavors to hit my tongue is the mango, followed by a fair amount of sweet and a light salt. The habanero heat starts to build along side a tangy fruit. The chewing brings on the habanero flavor, while the tanginess increases. There's touches of vinegar and faint traces of ginger in the background.

For being marketed as, "Mango Habanero" there's a strong, well-defined mango that seemingly overpowers this chew, leaving the habanero in a supporting role. The habanero flavor comes through enough to be identified, but it's heat remains dialed down, rating a "medium" on our heat scale (level 3 out of 5). The mango, however, tastes fresh and tangy, and even dominates the aroma upon opening the package.

Otherwise, the primary taste profile is a fruity, tangy, fresh mango that dominates the entire chewing, but introducing a lighter habanero flavor with a medium-level heat. There's touches of garlic, vinegar, and ginger that linger in the background.

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. Despite the higher level of sweet in this, it doesn't chew gummy at all.

Verdict

This Mango Habanero variety from Smokehouse Jerky Co. brings out an intense mango flavor tasting fresh and tangy, and just about dominating this chew from start to finish. Yet, it still manages to leave some room for the habanero, delivering just enough flavor to appreciate though at a lower, more moderate heat. We don't want to understate how tangy and fruity these slices of beef brisket are; there's more mango flavor in these strips than an actual mango. The soft slices of meat remain easy to chew through and take on a steak-like texture. Definitely for passionate mango lovers who crave that extra layer of heat, this jerky will leave you thinking you died and gone to mango heaven.

Rating: Good (4/5)