Snackbusters - Carnivore Edition (3 different flavors of Jerky.)

If there's something weird
And it don't look good
Who you gonna call
Snackbusters! 

I haven't reviewed a jerky product since that uncured Srircha Bacon version from Trader Joe's in May of 2015! Over a year without jerky, can you believe it? 

My eating preferences have always leaned more towards the veggie side, but even though I'm dating a vegetarian, I'm still an omnivore who LOVES chicken wings, bacon, and jerky. A while ago Aldi had these fancy flavored jerky bags in their Special Buy section and since I was craving jerky, I bought all three bags. Time to break my year-long jerky-drought with some "Artisan" Fusion Jerky!

 Chipotle Lime Beef Jerky

Smell: There's a healthy dose of lime juice in here for sure! The lime punches you right in the nose with it's tangy citrus notes, followed by a dry spicy chipotle pepper aroma and a hint of cracked pepper (the seasoning).

Texture: This flavor was the softest and easiest to chew of the three. Maybe the lime juice made it more tender? The pieces were small, soft, and surprisingly tender. 

Taste: Very soft, almost velvety bite, with a bold and tangy lime juice flavoring. The fruitiness gives way to a solid spicy chipotle burn towards the back of your tongue that builds rather quickly and is overall, really tasty. I've never had a citrus based jerky that was this citrus-y before. It's really refreshing and perfect for summer snacking, although you might want to keep a drink handy to mellow out chipotle heat. I love spicy snacks and after a few pieces I finished off a whole water bottle. (Milk is better to beat spicy heat but I didn't have it on hand.)

Island Teriyaki Pork Jerky

Smell: Really sweet and meaty, I think this one is pineapple based? It has a tropical aroma and no hint of heat. It's not labeled with a heat level, but I'm guessing this one in mild and fruity.  

Texture: Significantly stiffer than the beef-based Chipotle Lime, but it's not overly tough or dry. (Although I had one piece that felt like I was eating an old leather shoe, so it varies.) Overall the texture reminds me of the slightly greasy Trader Joe's jerky. 

Taste: Pretty bland, especially when compared to the other two. It's like dried out hamsteak with pineapple. I found it really "meh" and unsatisfying. It was my least favorite of the three, plus there was a super tough piece in the bag that felt like I was eating shoe leather.

Garlic Jalapeno Pork Jerky

Smell: It kind of reminds me of the sauce from take out General Tso's Chicken. Sweet, garlic-heavy, and meaty. Very umami. 

Texture: Pretty typical for Jerky. It's a little dry, with a softer bite than the Island Teriyaki, but no where near as tender as the Chipotle Lime. Just your average, run of the mill, chewy jerky.   

Taste: It's a little on the stringy side as you chew, but the flavoring is pretty nice. You get sweet brown sugar notes, with a little bit of jalapeño heat, and some seasoning that is REALLY reminiscent of Asian cooking sauces, like General Tso's chicken, or Hunan Pork. It's heat level is not as intense as the Chipotle Lime, so this is easier to snack on. Not bad at all, but I like the lime better. 

© Maria Smith http://poison-and-antidote.net

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