Although biltong and jerky are both dried meat snacks, they are made very differently and have completely different flavour and texture profiles.

Jerky is usually cooked or heat dried quickly and often contains sugar, sweet marinades, and smoky flavouring. It is commonly chewy, dry, and heavily processed.

Traditional South African biltong is different.

Biltong is air dried slowly over several days using vinegar, salt, spices, and carefully controlled airflow. It is not cooked during the drying process, which gives it a more natural texture and richer flavour.

Good biltong is typically softer, thicker, and more tender than jerky. Because it is made from larger cuts of meat and dried gradually, it also retains more of the natural beef flavour and fat.

At The SAFFA Shack in Hawke’s Bay, we make authentic South African biltong locally in New Zealand using premium beef and traditional methods refined over years.

Many people also choose biltong as an alternative to ultra-processed snack foods because it is naturally high in protein and contains simple recognisable ingredients.

Whether you are new to biltong or grew up with it in South Africa, authentic biltong offers a completely different experience to jerky.

If you are looking for authentic biltong in New Zealand, visit The SAFFA Shack online or in Hawke’s Bay.

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