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Jeff's Gourmet Jerky

Former restaurant owner and food-loving entrepreneur Jeff Richards began making jerky some years ago as a tasty, healthful holiday gift for family and friends.

When these lucky recipients began sharing with their friends and acquaintances, he began getting requests for more and the idea of starting a company took shape.

After three years in development, Jeff has launched "Jeff's Gourmet Jerky," and the product really lives up to the name.

Made with premium beef that has been marinated and slow-cooked, Jeff's Gourmet Jerky has a texture superior to any other we've tried. This jerky retains a little moisture, resulting in a texture that's on the tender side - not the rawhide-like challenge to your teeth and jaws that so many other brands have.

In addition, the various flavors are intense without being overpowering - like a well-seasoned steak. We sampled all but one of the available varieties.

The Old Fashioned Original flavor is marinated with Jeff's special spice mixture, resulting in a classic jerky flavor that is well-balanced, not too salty and intensely beefy.

The Sweet Teriyaki gets it's flavor from a pungent pineapple marinade. If you enjoy the sweet-spicy flavors of teriyaki beef, you'll find this variety to be ideal for snacking.

The Black Pepper and Sea Salt (our personal favorite) is a perfect balance of rich beef flavor, fragrant black pepper and despite the name, a subtle saltiness. The black pepper is just strong enough to add a moderate amount of heat without taking over your taste buds.

The Jalapeño Carne Asada is the newest addition to Jeff's flavor assortment. Like the other varieties, the beef flavor is rich and meaty and the seasoning ends up being a perfect accent, not the predominant flavor. The jalapeño pepper is notable and retains some fresh pepper quality.

A two-pack of 3-ounce bags is about $14 from JeffsGourmetJerky.com