The Jerky Junkie

We step into the realm of non-traditional beef jerky with Pemmican, a Native American variant on the currently popular form of beef jerky. Pemmican, though exotic sounding, is a standard, easy to find jerky. I find it most often in gas stations and convenience stores for a very reasonable price. But is this a case of getting what you pay for?

Here comes the test. Today’s flavor choice? Teriyaki.

The Jerky Scale Scores:

1 : Dry

2 : Passable cuts of meat

1 : Crumbly

3 : Medium thickness

1 : Not sweet

3 : Average saltiness

1 : No Spice

On first glance you think you have gotten a deal with purchasing Pemmican. Instead, you are stuck with a bag of dry, re-pressed ground beef to be used strictly in starvation emergencies in your tractor trailer truck. Keep in glove box in case of blizzard? Fine. Offer to friends on a short hike? Only if all your food went down river with the canoe.

The medium thickness of the pieces originally gives you hope for a satisfying, chewy time. Sadly, the chewing becomes the only sensation you can call a reward for your labors, since the seasoning mostly comes down to some salt and pepper. I actually forgot that it was supposed to be Teriyaki flavored until I looked at the packaging again.

The Outer Scale Scores:

1 : not worth buying

1 : the packaging makes it last

While the contents were disappointing, there is no question that this stuff will last you. The packaging is better-made than the product, so you won’t have to worry about needing frequent re-buys of your emergency stash in the car/pack/or pocket.

In the end, Pemmican turns out to be the traditional beef jerky’s sad half-brother, but he certainly puts hussle into his game.

Stay tuned. There’s meat to come.