I met up with Doug from Jersey Boyz Jerky when I was at the Fiery Foods Show and he slipped me something under the table. Fearing that it was a mafia bribe I looked at my hand, I was close in my fears. Doug had given me their new product, Jersey Boyz Habanero Dusted Beef Jerky, for review.

Ingredients: Beef, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, potassium sorbate, sodium nitrate. Other Ingredients: Cider, vinegar, cayenne peppers, Cajun seasoning, Spanish paprika, red pepper, black pepper, fresh habanero peppers.

Unlike their Spicy Jerky, this is your traditional, tough, and chewy beef jerky. Even though it has been dried in the usual manor, this cut of meat is really thick (I’m guessing London Broil)! When asked about this, Doug stated, “We push the FDA limits as to how think a jerky product can be”.

The taste is that of your usual, high quality beef jerky. The Soy and Worcestershire sauce come in first, followed by black pepper, then the hot peppers. The familiar bite of Cayenne rears it’s head and a nice hint of paprika with the slightly fruity taste of habanero trailing in the rear. When chewed on (and you really have to do a lot of chewing…a sign of great jerky) it really gets your salivary glands pumping, which hydrates the jerky a bit and makes the experience even better.

I find that, though it is presented as “Habanero Dusted”, the heat and flavor of that pepper is way down the list. There is some heat there, especially when compared to their Spicy Jerky, but it just tingles your tongue for about 30 seconds and then goes away. I’ve heard some rumors that the Jerky Boyz have been toying with the idea of a Naga Dusted Beef Jerky and I think that one would be more up my ally for heat.

Another rarely seen bonus for this jerky is what’s included in the bag with the jerky. An O2 Absorber to keep the jerky fresh and a Locin Premium Flossers/tooth pick for getting the jerky out of those hard to reach spots inbetween your teeth. A very considerate gesture guys, nice work.

Taste: 7.9, Heat: 3.7