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Perky Jerky is caffeinated: protein plus energy! Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE. |
| WHAT IT IS: Gourmet jerky. |
| WHY IT’S DIFFERENT: It’s caffeinated: meat plus energy! |
WHY WE LOVE IT: Poco Dolce has been a NIBBLE favorite for years. |
| WHERE TO BUY IT: PerkyJerky.com. |
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Three of the four flavors of Perky Jerky, all available in beef or turkey. Photo by Elvira Kalviste | THE NIBBLE.
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Perky Jerky: Gourmet Jerky With A Caffeine Kick
We first tasted Perky Jerky three years ago and really enjoyed it; we wrote it up in our blog. But three years later, we realize it deserves elevation to a Top Pick Of The Week.
This is gourmet jerky with a twist: the tender meat is caffeinated. The manufacturer calls it “the world’s first all-natural performance enhancing meat snack.”
The idea is, if you need energy but don’t like energy drinks or coffee—or if you’re simply hungry—tear open a portion-controlled package and enjoy a flavorful snack full of nourishment and energy.
Protein- and sugar-laden beef jerky has been caffeinated with guarana, a natural energy booster with about twice the caffeine content of a coffee bean. This idea deserves an Edison Award for product innovation.
The 100% beef jerky is tender and flavorful (some of the jerky brands we try are so dried out and unpalatable, we literally give them to the dog). And yes, it gave us ENERGY!
Beef & Turkey Jerky Flavors
The original beef jerky now has a large family, with four varieties each in beef or turkey jerky:
- Hot & Bothered Perky Jerky
- Plain Jerky
- Sweet & Spicy Perky Jerky
- Teriyaki Perky Jerky
While turkey jerky fares better, both varieties are relatively low in calories, carbs and fat and a good protein snack. The company website provides nutritional information for each variety, but here are the basics:
- Beef Jerky/ounce: 90 calories, 25 mg cholesterol, 530 mg sodium, 5g sugars, 11g protein.
- Turkey Jerky/ounce: 50 calories, 20 mg cholesterol, 110 mg sodium, 2g sugars, 9g protein.
Father’s Day Treats, Party Favors & More
For Dad or any meat lover in need of a tasty jolt (students, new parent, overworked adults) Perky Jerky is available in:
- Snack bag (1 ounce): $2.99,
12-pack $30.00
- Snack bag (2.2 ounces): $4.99;
12-pack $59.88
- Family size (5 ounces): $9.99;
5 bags $39.99
- Sampler: 1 bag of each flavor, $29.99
Fun Jerky Facts
Perky Jerky is a accidental invention, like potato chips, yogurt and many of our foods. An energy drink spilled over some jerky, drenching the meat. Not about to throw good jerky away, the “inventors” ate it and discovered that it was not only more tender, but a great energy boost. (Today, the process for making Perky Jerky is a bit more sophisticated.)
The word jerky comes from the Quechua language of the Incas, who called their dried meat “charqui.” While the prehistoric method of meat preservation was used by other ancient peoples, it was not known in Europe; the first visitors to the New World found Native Americans making jerky from the meat of any animal they hunted, from buffalo to whale. Today jerky can be found in meats as common as turkey, tuna and salmon, to exotic alligator and ostrich.
For more information and to buy the Perky Jerky, visit PerkyJerky.com.
— Karen Hochman
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