I have loved beef jerky since I could remember. In the US it come in many forms, but you have to really know where to get the good stuff. Maybe you are from South Africa and only know Biltong. I will get to that in a moment. Jerky is strips of beef typically shaped to the cut of the beef. The beef is dried with salt and spices. The real original jerky is hard to find. Proper jerky is lightly spiced and really tough to chew. The fat is usually trimmed off which helps preserve it and is why it will be more dense and chewy. It takes a while. You get your money's worth. It is medium to thick cut and comes in naturally shaped pieces. While beef is used primarily in the US, I have seen deer, moose, elk, and bison jerky.

Then I arrived in South Africa and learned that Biltong is taken very seriously and is the pride of SA. It's my new favorite snack here and is believed to have originated with early Dutch settlers in South Africa and possibly with native Africans. Biltong is cured with vinegar and spices and then dried. The bits of meat are in different shapes, usually thicker sliced than jerky and with the fatty pieces left on. You get this succulent, not too salty rich flavor that is unlike jerky of the US. It tastes fresh and more meaty than its jerky counterpart. It is also less sweet than jerky. I must say, if you wish to travel to SA, you must try Biltong! If you are a foodie, then grab a visit visa and come over. Call New World Immigration and ask me where to find bil ("rump") and tong ("strip" or "tongue"), Biltong!