If you’re looking for a high-protein snack that fits the ideals of sports nutrition and gives you an authentic taste of South Africa, look no further than Stryve Biltong! Unlike before, when getting genuine South African traditional Biltong outside the country was challenging for ex-pats and Biltong fans, Stryve Foods aims to make it easier than ever. Stryve Foods offers the best Biltong USA made from 100% premium grade beef sourced from local American ranchers and is all-natural, meaning no gluten, sugar, MSG, preservatives, or nitrates.
The “what is biltong?” section, for those who might not know!
Biltong is a delicious and healthy meat-based snack made through a centuries-old method of air-drying meat. The air-drying preservation method originates from South Africa and has been used to preserve meat for hundreds of years. Biltong originates from Dutch. “Bil” means meat, and ‘tong,’ means strip. That said, the word “Biltong” translates directly to “strips of beef.”
When settlers came to the Cape, they brought a new, more refined curing process involving marinating the meat in a blend of vinegar and spices, bringing Biltong to life. Thanks to how well it preserves and its durability, Biltong played an essential part in the travels of Voortrekkers or Dutch settlers as they moved across South Africa.
Biltong is still an excellent travel snack and contains impressive benefits that have increased its popularity among snack enthusiasts worldwide.
How is Stryve Biltong made?
Historically, people used beef and game meat like kudu or ostrich to make Biltong. Today you’ll find many varieties of Biltong made from different kinds of meat, including beef, lamb, chicken, venison, pork, and fish. You can even find vegan Biltong varieties made from mushrooms!
Stryve Foods makes Biltong from 100% premium-grade beef. Stryve beef Biltong is sourced and purchased from local ranchers in the United States, washed in tangy vinegar then seasoned with dry rubs. Instead of using heat, Stryve beef Biltong slabs are hung in a humidity-controlled room and air-dried for up to two weeks to ensure the beef snacks are nutrition-packed.
Once dried, the slabs are cut into ultra-thin, easy-to-eat, tender pieces. Stryve Foods makes Biltong in the USA in a 50,000 square feet state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Oklahoma. Stryve beef sticks are all about healthy snacking and don’t contain any processing sugars, preservatives, fillers, or additives.
Stryve Biltong nutrition facts
A bag of Stryve beef Biltong stores 8 ounces of sliced Stryve beef sticks and has a serving size of one ounce or 28g. The following are the Stryve Biltong nutritional facts for a one-ounce serving:
- Calories: 90
- Total fat: 2g (3% DV)
- Cholesterol: 30mg (10% DV)
- Sodium: 430mg (18% DV)
- Total carbohydrates: 0g (0% DV)
- Dietary fibre: 0g
- Total sugars: 0g
- Protein: 16g
- Iron: 1mg (6% DV)
- Potassium: 190mg (4% DV)
The % values you see above show how much the nutrients in the above-mentioned food serving will contribute to your daily allowances.
Difference between biltong and jerky
It’s easy to confuse Biltong with jerky since they’re cured meat snacks. They both have massive fan bases worldwide and can be preserved for long periods and remain safe to eat. However, Biltong is a South African delicacy, while jerky originates from South American indigenous people who dried and smoked strips of meat to preserve it for later consumption.
Key differences between Biltong and Jerky include:
- Preparation processes
Biltong is prepared by marinating meat in a mix of vinegar, salt, and natural spices like coriander and black pepper. Next, the meat gets air-dried in a well-ventilated area for up to two weeks, with the slow-drying process allowing a flavourful and tender end product.
Jerky is usually made by cutting lean meat and marinating it in seasonings and spices. The meat is then smoked or dehydrated at low temperatures, resulting in a more rigid, drier texture than Biltong.
- Nutritional profiles
The preparation processes result in different nutritional profiles between Biltong and jerky. Biltong usually has a higher protein content and lower sodium levels than beef jerky because the air-drying process in Biltong preparation retains more of the meat’s natural nutrients.
Beef jerky usually has higher sodium levels but lower fat content because dehydration and smoking remove most of the natural fats in the meat. The heat also cooks out most of the nutritional value of beef jerky
- Texture and taste
Biltong features a steak-like softer texture and a savoury taste. The vinegar and spices give it a tanginess that differentiates it from other dried meat snacks. Biltong can also vary from chewy and soft to brittle and hard, depending on preference and drying time.
Beef jerky is usually smokier, with a more intense flavour and a tough, chewy texture ranging from leathery to dry. The dehydration and smoking process creates an umami-rich, full-bloodied taste
Who founded Strive Biltong?
Strive Biltong was founded by Ted Casey, former NFL player Gabe Carimi and Joe Oblas in 2017. The founders wanted to find a high-protein snack ideal for sports nutrition, unlike the sugar-packed beef jerky. Stryve bought out two US Biltong companies founded by South African immigrants in 2018: Biltong USA and Braaitime LLC, giving them control of every FDA-approved Biltong production facility in the US.
Stryve Beef Biltong Stores
You can buy Stryve beef Biltong online at their store or in all major offline stores throughout the US, like Walmart, Costco and Target.
Expert advice for SA ex-pats right here at FinGlobal
If you’re enjoying your Stryve Biltong outside South Africa or you’re ready to take the plunge and move to a new country, you may need help with your emigration needs. To that, we say look no further than FinGlobal. Here, you can get bespoke services from emigration experts to suit your situation and needs. Whether you’re based abroad or considering moving out of the country, FinGlobal guarantees quality services with all the support you need during and after your emigration.
With over ten years of experience helping thousands of clients in over 105 countries with different financial emigration aspects, FinGlobal is well-positioned to ensure a smooth and successful process, no matter your needs. Contact us to discuss your unique queries by calling +27 28 313 5600 or emailing info@finglobal.com.