Beef jerky is a ready-to-eat, nutrient-dense snack made out of strips of meat that have been flavored and dried (dehydrated).
Beef jerky has been around for a very long time. Even back in the days of the ancient Egyptians people were eating dried meat. However, the closest version to the beef jerky that we eat today began in the indigenous societies of modern-day Peru. The Quechua peoples, whose process for drying meat dates back to the Inca empire, named it “ch’arki”, which means “dried, salted meat”. The English word “jerky”, and the Brazilian word “charque” are derived from this word. The earliest records of “ch’arki” come from the 1550’s, long before “cowboys” and pioneers in North American made beef jerky popular!
While most jerky today is made with beef, the Quechua people used alpaca and llama meat, a tradition that still continues today, with Peru as the largest producer in the world. “Charque”, from Brazil, is made with beef, and in the United States you can find jerky made from many different kinds of protein and plant sources.
It’s true that Native American people had a process for drying buffalo, elk and deer meat, and the “cowboys” and pioneers of North America in the 1880’s relied on jerky as a reliable way to preserve and store meat for travel, so it has been popular in America for many centuries. Typically salted and dried in the hot sun, jerky became a staple because of its nutritional value with high levels of protein and low amounts of fat, and the ability to eat it “on the go”. Today beef jerky is one of the most popular snacks in the United States, found in every grocery and convenience store across America. It’s the go-to snack for school, work, outdoor activities, travel, etc., because of its convenience and nutritional value. But jerky’s popularity is growing world-wide, and cultures all over the world are appreciating its great taste and benefits. And now it’s available right here in Portugal, made with meat from the Azores!
Our beef jerky does not require refrigeration, however once it is opened we recommend that you eat it within three days, carefully closing the bag every time. You can also store it in the refrigerator for a longer period of time.
High-quality, commercial beef jerky like Azores Beef Jerky doesn’t have an expiry date, as such. The ingredients we use and the drying processes that are used to produce our beef jerky are designed to improve quality and enhance shelf-life. There isn’t a specific expiry date, unlike many other foods, rather we provide a best before date, which encourages our customers to consume the product within a time frame that ensures you enjoy the optimum flavor and freshness.
Many people might think that jerky is a “junk food”, however Azores Beef Jerky is actually quite a healthy snack. Our beef jerky is hand-crafted, and all of our flavors offer massive amounts of protein, minimal carbohydrates, and are low in calories and fat. (As with any jerky product, we use salt in the curing process, so if you are concerned about sodium levels be sure to check our labels.) Most importantly, at Azores Jerky we use only grass-fed, free-range beef from the Azores, ensuring the healthiest and most flavorful meat possible. Really, have you seen the Azores? Lush green fields, fresh Atlantic air, the sea nearby, the sun shining… You get the picture!
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