Greetings!
For this round of Jerkyological evaluation we’re tearing into a bag of Golden Island All-Natural Chili Lime Beef Jerky procured from the Costco jerky assortment.
Golden Island All-Natural Chili Lime Beef Jerky
This, the third of three Golden Island “Epicurean Flavors”, is the last of the batch to receive a thorough Jerkyology review. The previous two flavors – Kung Pao and Five Spice were definitely tasty, but the later had some issues with the edibility of the meat. They’re all truly adventurous flavors that show a real love of jerky and do their part to add to the breadth of jerky experiences. Chili Lime is a not-uncommon flavor, particularly in areas with strong Mexican food traditions, but doesn’t often turn out particularly well. With the demonstrated skill we’ve seen from the fine folks at Golden Island in the past, does this jerky deliver on the promise of an exceptional treat? Let’s see what you get with this one:
Appearance (B+): This jerky looks a bit rough at first, but once you have a few pieces and understand what you have you start seeing it for what it is and it looks pretty good. The pieces are general pretty good sized, cut slightly thickly, with some nibble-sized bits mashed in the mix here and there. They’re a darkish brown color with a red hue throughout and the surface has a ragged sort of texture. There are tiny bits of chili and peppers scattered across the surface as well, adding visual interest. All-in-all, it looks good.
Consistency (A-): The flavor of this jerky is spot-on throughout the bag; the balance of the flavors and their overall intensity is expertly delivered. The moisture, too, is delightfully consistent from bite to bite. Importantly, given the tough time we had with the Five Spice flavor, the meat in this bag is cut with a nicely uniform thickness and there were only a few bits of gristle to be found. This is an expertly made jerky.
Overall Impression (A-): We have a winner! This Chili Lime jerky is an absolute joy and a welcome departure from the usual assortment of jerky flavors. The flavor is just fantastic, with depth and balance that point to genuine skill, and the pieces feel every bit like the quality beef they are. Not everyone is going to go for the chili lime flavor itself, but if you’re at all a fan (or you just have the curiosity to give it a whirl) you’re going to love this stuff. Grab a bag… grab several… and dig in. Eat well!