Coming soon
We're launching our US made Air Dried Steak / Biltong soon!
3 products
What is Biltong?
Biltong is a traditional South African savoury snack that's similar to beef jerky. It's made by air-drying seasoned meat, typically beef. Unlike beef jerky, which is often dehydrated or smoked, biltong is not cooked but rather cured and dried over several days which preserves most nutrients. Biltong is relatively new to the snacking scene, despite African communities making it to preserve meat in a hot climate without refrigeration for hundreds of years. While biltong is usually made from beef, various types of game are also used. Our next favourite after beef, is lamb biltong.
What's the difference between Biltong and Jerky
Jerky is usually cooked (~70°C) or smoked for several hours, whereas biltong is soaked in a salt-and-vinegar brine before being hung to slowly air-dry over a number of days. Drying is better for the nutrient profile of the beef because more heat sensitive vitamins, like Vitamin B12, are retained. Traditionally, biltong is made with a simple combination of salt, vinegar, and spices. Jerky, on the other hand, does not contain vinegar and is more likely to contain secondary ingredients like sugar, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce.
How do the cuts of meat differ?
Jerky is almost always made from very lean cuts of beef, whereas biltong may be made from either lean or fatty cuts. Biltong is usually cut into wide, thick strips that are easier to hang, whereas jerky is typically thinly sliced (although we thinly slice our biltong as it's easier to eat). While jerky has a more consistent moisture content and texture because it relies on lean cuts of meat, biltong has more diverse textures because various cuts may be used.Some types may be very moist and fatty, with others dry and crumbly.
Is Biltong better than Jerky?
We love jerky, but finding jerky that's low in sugar and without nasty preservatives is tough. Speaking of tough, most jerky is also as tough as an old boot.
Biltong is more tender and easy to eat. We avoid any sugary marinades to keep the sugar content very low, and we avoid all the usual nasty preservatives usually found in dried and cured meats.
Is Biltong good for you?
Yes! Biltong is good for the whole family including kids. It's a great source of protein and essential vitamins and minerals while being low in carbs. It’s particularly rich in iron. Chief Biltong is made from grass-fed and grass-finished regeneratively farmed organic beef.
How to store Biltong? How long does Biltong last?
Even though we avoid nasty preservatives, Chief Biltong will last up to 12 months on the shelf thanks to our oxygen free packaging. While we recommend storing below 25°C (77°F), it's not particularly heat sensitive and will be fine in your glovebox or your bag in high temperatures.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Chief BiltongBiltong is a traditional South African savoury snack that's similar to beef jerky. It's made by air-drying seasoned meat, typically beef.
Unlike beef jerky, which is often dehydrated or smoked, biltong is not cooked but rather cured and dried over several days which preserves most nutrients.
Biltong is relatively new to the snacking scene, despite African communities making it to preserve meat in a hot climate without refrigeration for hundreds of years.
While biltong is usually made from beef, various types of game are also used. Our next favourite after beef, is lamb biltong.
Biltong is often confused with jerky because they’re both dried, meat-based snacks.
However, the ingredients and production methods are different, making biltong healthier and more tender.
Production method
Jerky is usually cooked (at around 70 degree C) or smoked for several hours, whereas biltong is not cooked at all.
Biltong is soaked in a salt-and-vinegar brine before being hung to slowly air-dry. This drying process and ageing process can last for days before it is ready to eat.
Drying is better for the nutrient profile of the beef because more heat sensitive vitamins, like Vitamin B12, are retained.
Traditionally, biltong is made with a simple combination of salt, vinegar, and spices.
Jerky, on the other hand, does not contain vinegar and is more likely to contain secondary ingredients like sugar, soy sauce, and Worcestershire sauce. A lot of jerky is surprisingly high in sugar, upwards of 20%.
Many commercial biltong and beef jerky uses nasty preservatives like added nitrates and nitrites (which we avoid with our biltong and beef bars).
Cuts of meat
Jerky is almost always made from very lean cuts of beef, whereas biltong may be made from either lean or fatty cuts.
Biltong is usually cut into wide, thick strips that are easier to hang, whereas jerky is typically thinly sliced (although we thinly slice our biltong as it's easier to eat).
While jerky has a more consistent moisture content and texture because it relies on lean cuts of meat, biltong has more diverse textures because various cuts may be used.
Some types may be very moist and fatty, with others dry and crumbly.
It's basically like jerky, dried strips of meat. Unlike jerky, biltong is generally more tender and easier to eat. We cut our biltong quite thinly so it's more like a nice prosciutto.
Yes! Biltong is a high protein, low carb and low sugar snack that's packed full of nutrients. Being nutrient dense it'll quickly help stop you craving more snacks, making it a convenient health food.
It’s important to recognise that every time we cook food we “process” it. A whole food product is defined as “a food that has been processed or refined as little as possible and is free from additives or other artificial substances”. Our products are whole foods, not “processed meats”, because they’re made with high quality meat, with a few herbs and natural ingredients. They’re dried using a traditional process (which is healthier than cooking it at high temperature) without the ingredients found in “processed meats”.
When referring to "processed meats" what the experts are talking about are sausages, bacon, deli meats, canned meats and dried meats that contain harmful vegetable oils, too much salt, added nitrites and nitrates and other harmful additives.
This is a quote from one of advisors, Dr Naras Lapsys:
"I for one, would find it very difficult to ever categorise the meat sourced in Chief as 'processed meat'. It just is not. The meat is grass fed and cured without using any harmful nitrates or other potentially toxic chemicals. Furthermore, the curing process does not involve cooking the meat at high temperatures, a process that has been well established as producing very toxic products called advanced glycation end products or AGEs. So processed meat, it is not."
If you'd like to delve deeper, please read this article.
All our meat is 100% organic, grass-fed, grass-finished, added hormone free, antibiotic free and ethically raised beef. We use topside sourced from family owned organic farms in QLD, Australia where cattle forage freely all year round following regenerative practices.
Our beef range is designed for those looking for a high quality protein source on the move, but they're also a brilliant post workout recovery snack and great for those who just want a guilt free, savoury snack.
Yes! Our kids love the non chilli options which are perfect for kids and a great way to get some high quality protein into their diet. We have many customers tell us it's the only solid food they can get their kids to eat! Biltong is great for kids lunchboxes.
You should always check with your doctor. Some may warn you off dried meat during pregnancy because it's not cooked but there is nothing in our products that you would need to worry about while breastfeeding. They are very safe and in our personal experience we've found them to be great for pregnancy and breast feeding. In fact, high quality organic grass-fed beef is a fantastic supplement for mums who are growing human beings (and an important source of iron).
Yes! Biltong is a great option for the Carnivore diet. For those on strict Carnivore, go for our "Carnivore" flavour.
Meat is a staple of a keto diet but it’ll depend on what else you’re eating.
Our collagen bars are even more keto friendly as they’re high in good fats from nuts and MCT.
Yes, Biltong is perfectly paleo.
Our biltong is free from onion and garlic and has been tested as FODMAP friendly. Our beef bars contain onion and garlic powder.
Did you know low FODMAP is a short-term solution and not designed to be followed for months at a time? Read more about FODMAP
We can't give you that advice so you need to speak with your dietitian but we have had feedback from dietitians that all our products are perfectly suitable for diabetics.
Yes, all our Biltong is free from gluten, dairy, soy and vegetable oils. Some Biltong uses soy sauce, but we switch this out for Coconut Aminos.
The beef we use is Halal certified but our manufacturing is not Kosher or Halal certified yet. We are working on Halal certification as we already export other products to the Middle East.
Packaged biltong will last on the shelf for up to 12 months without refrigeration. If you want your biltong to last longer, you can refrigerate or freeze it.
Refrigerate once opened and consume within 3 days.
Biltong is a great snack that you can keep in your pantry, glovebox or bag. But it's also a quick and prep free way to add protein to your salads, soups, avocado dips, tacos, baking and more.
Biltong is a traditional South African savoury snack that's similar to beef jerky. It's made by air-drying seasoned meat, typically beef.
Unlike beef jerky, which is often dehydrated or smoked, biltong is not cooked but rather cured and dried over several days which preserves most nutrients.
While biltong is usually made from beef, various types of game are also used. Our next favourite after beef, is lamb biltong.
Biltong is soaked in a salt-and-vinegar brine before being hung to slowly air-dry. This drying process and ageing process can last for days before it is ready to eat.
Drying is better for the nutrient profile of the beef because more heat sensitive vitamins, like Vitamin B12, are retained.
Traditionally, biltong is made with a simple combination of salt, vinegar, and spices.
Biltong contains around 46g of protein per 100g. This is higher than raw beef because Biltong is dried beef, which means we remove all of the water weight and retain all of the nutrients, including protein.
One 30g serve of Biltong will provide around 10% of your daily iron needs. Note that Biltong contains heme iron which is a superior and more bioavailable form of iron.
Being made from beef, Biltong is a great source of B12. One 30g serve of Biltong will provide around 44% of your daily B12 needs.
Being made from beef, Biltong is naturally very low in carbs and sugar. There is some carbs from the spices and coconut aminos. For the cleanest version of our biltong, try our "Carnivore" flavour.
Chief Biltong is available at retailers around Australia and is coming soon to the US. For the best deal on Biltong, we suggest buying a box or two on subscription. We also offer bulk buy options for Biltong.