Vegan jerky is a staple snack for many hikers. It’s full of protein and its savoury umami taste and chewy texture satisfies most cravings when out on a long trip. A few months ago I tried the popular brand of vegan jerky Primal Strips. (See my review here.) Most of its strips are made from soy and seitan, but there was also one offering made from shiitake mushroom. As a newbie to jerky, I definitely preferred the shiitake mushroom variety as it was slightly softer in texture and not as ‘meat-like’ as the other options. That being said, the other varieties would be ideal for those used to the traditional beef jerky, as I was told by my friend that they tasted quite similar.
Mighty Bee Coconut Jerky
In a bid to try some more varieties and discover whether jerky could become a staple snack for me, I did some research and was pleased to come across another brand called Mighty Bee. Unlike Primal Strips, this vegan jerky was made from coconut meat. Perfect for those allergic to or trying to cut out soy. The jerky came in three varieties: Teriyaki, Chocolate & Hazelnut and Spicy BBQ.
Coconut Jerky Review
When I received the jerky, I was pleased to see that it was made using only natural and organic ingredients. Plus each 30g packet was conveniently sized and counted as one of your five a day. On first appearances, the coconut jerky felt slightly softer than the soy/seitan Primal Strips varieties though it did have a similar ‘bark’ like appearance.
In terms of nutritional values, the coconut jerky had a considerable amount more fat in comparison to the soy and seitan Primal Strips but less protein. (2.6g of protein in the coconut jerky compared to 10g of protein in the soy and seitan Primal Strips.) The amount of fat in the coconut jerky (7.8g of which 6.5g are saturates) can be attributed to the middle-chain fatty acids in the coconut which is thought to raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels and may boost your immune system. While these stats make it a highly fatty snack to sustain you while hiking, I wouldn’t advise eaten too much, especially if living a more sedentary lifestyle.
Taste Test
After tasting the jerky, my favourite was definitely the Teriyaki. The combination of coconut, ginger, garlic and tamari went well together and there was a pleasant creamy coconut aftertaste. The texture was softer than the soy and seitan varieties, but it still had bite and was chewy.
Unfortunately, I wasn’t a fan of the Spicy BBQ flavour. It wasn’t hot and I didn’t think the creamy coconut flavour complimented the sundried tomatoes and spiced paprika. I ended up with a soapy aftertaste in my mouth.
After the two savoury varieties, I was excited to try the sweet Chocolate & Hazelnut. I’ve never seen a chocolate flavoured jerky before and I was pleased to see the brand using raw cacao in the mix—as it’s full of antioxidants and minerals. I liked the addition of hazelnuts as it offered another texture and it worked well against the chewy coconut meat. The chocolate flavour was definitely subtle and was slightly bitter—as to be expected from raw cacao. But this went well with the natural creamy coconut flavour. The flavours didn’t wow me and they certainly wouldn’t satisfy full-on chocolate cravings, but the flavour was well rounded and made a nice change from the traditional savoury varieties.
Where can I buy them?
At the moment, you can buy the individual packets at a few online stores including Ocado and TheFoodMarket.com. They cost £2.85 a packet. Or you can buy them by the box from Mighty Bee. 12 packets for £34.
Have you heard of BANANITO?
Mighty Bee also makes a brand of solar-dried banana bars called BANANITO. These are delicious and definitely something I’ll be repurchasing. See my full review here.
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