The Biltong Company
For those of you who don't know what biltong is lets start from the beginning.
Biltong is an air dried meat delicacy that originated in South Africa. It can be made using a variety of meats ranging from venison, beef, ostrich, chicken and even fish. Beef is by far the firm favorite. Biltong is the original convenience food and is still produced in the same traditional African way to this day
It is sometimes compared to beef jerky in that they are both spiced, dried meats, but they do differ in their typical ingredients, taste and production process. Biltong differs from jerky in two distinct ways:
The meat used in biltong is much thicker.Jerky is normally very thin meat.
The vinegar and salt in biltong, together with the drying process,cures the meat as well as adding texture and lots of flavour. Jerky is traditionally dried without vinegar.
There are many recipes and methods to make biltong. In South Africa these recipes are usually passed down from generation to generation. Obviously we have perfected our own recipes over the years but our founders uncle, a butcher of 30 years in South Africa, introduced him to the biltong making process. For your assurance, the biltong is prepared in the most hygienic of conditions and we hold valid hygiene certificates.
It's a well known fact that biltong has many wonderful attributes. Being an air dried beef snack says a lot. Its not cooked in anything but a marinade of spices and good old fashioned air. That's it! No wonder Ray Mears has endorsed it on his survival website. It is also a firm favorite for Armies around the world for survival during both training and out on the field. People munch on it at work, playing golf or even in the pub over a cold pint! Who would have thought this air dried African meat snack would one day be found in Harvey Nichols, Selfridges, and Harrods!.
Healthy eating is a big topic these days and people are increasingly more open minded and health conscious than ever before. If you explain the origin of a cetain type of food and the nutritional value that it provides, people will be a lot more willing to try it out. Biltong is very high in protein and most biltong is almost totally fat free. This is one of the biggest reasons for biltongs tremendous success. And the best thing of all is that it is amazingly tasty and very addictive!
Storage and care
All our products will arrive sealed for hygiene purposes. All the Biltong Stick packs will arrive vacuum sealed and rest of our products will arrive sealed but will contain desiccant gel sachets for moisture control. After opening our packs, please remove all the dried meat from the bag and discard all packaging. Allow all products to breathe for at least 10-15 minutes for maximum flavour and texture before eating. Store in a cool dry place or in the fridge. Please consume within a week. If you intend to store for a longer period of time then it is best to be stored in the freezer.
The Biltong Story
Biltong as we know it today, is a rich inheritance from the pioneering South African forefathers who sun dried meat during their trek across the African subcontinent. Prior to the introduction of refrigeration, the curing process was used by the pioneers to preserve all kinds of meat. This spicy salted air dried meat has sustained the people of South Africa ever since the early days of the Voortrekkers 400 years ago.
There are many variations of the end product, but the original basis behind the process is the same, comprising a blend of vinegar, salt, sugar, coriander, and some other spices. All of these were in abundance in the then Cape Colony. Various brine recipes have been created ever since and continue to be handed down from generation to generation.
Biltong is a common product in South African butcheries and grocery stores. Biltong is renowned as being chewed on as a snack but it can aslo be diced up into stews, added to muffins, and is even used as a pizza topping. Even biltong flavoured potato crisps have been produced.
Biltong is also commonly used as a teething aid for babies. We offer a milder form of biltong bites specifically for this purpose. These bites do not contain as many spices as usual, especially lower salt content.
