What is Biltong? All you need to know!

Do you love snacking? Probably your answer is yes! Who does not? Some people say taking snacks leads to excess calories intake. But nutritionists say there’s nothing wrong in snacking ‘if done right’. Snacking helps you curb your appetite and boosts energy when your glucose level drops in between your meals. It would be best if you eat snacks full of nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, just like Biltong, a popular snack that originated in South African countries. It is an amazing snack that has taken the world by storm with its mouthwatering taste, incredible health benefits, and grab-and-go convenience.

If you haven’t yet tried it, go for it! It will blow your mind and offer you a whole new snacking experience like never before. But before you give it a try for the first time, read on and find out some vital information about these very delicious snacks.

What is Biltong?

First things first! It is a thinly sliced, air-dried, cured meat-based snack. However, it can be prepared using various meats, including lamb, eland, ostrich, the most commonly found variety of beef. Reason- beef is readily available in farms and butchers’. This snack is not a newbie; South Africans have been consuming it for decades. Although earlier, when there were limited resources, indigenous people cut the meat with knives, mixed it with salt and preserved it. They used to hang the meat on tree branches until it was dry.

How is it different from beef jerky?

Though they have the same main ingredients and look similar, they are very different. See how:

• Jerky is prepared from a flank, sirloin or ground beef cut, and it is full of (bad) saturated fat, whereas, in Biltong, much of this saturated fat is lost in the curing process.
• Jerky is smoked, which is not good for your health. However, its counterpart is cured with malt vinegar, salt, coriander and pepper and is never smoked, which means it is cleaner and juicier.
• This South African snack comes from top-grade silverside obtained from certified farms. In this, you will get 4g of fat and 50g of protein per 100g of the pack; however, jerky stands nowhere close to it.
• Jerky is not as flavourful because it is first sliced thinly and then cured. In contrast, this delicious savoury is first cured and then sliced, which keeps its flavour packed.

Its Benefits

Are you tempted to take your first bite? Here are some exciting benefits of it to tempt you even more.

Low fat and High protein

If you want to feel more satisfied with your snacking habit yet not feel guilty, it is the best choice for you! The most famous quality of this tasty snack is high in protein and low in fat content.

Superior snack

Is there anything more disappointing than feeling hungry even when you have taken your snacks? As discussed, this snack is thick cut and preserves its flavour; it is sure to leave you feeling fuller. Besides this, it contains fewer calories than the other healthy snacks available in the market.

High vitamin and minerals

This snack is prepared using top-quality meat obtained from grass-fed beef; it is naturally rich in vitamins and minerals. It boosts your energy and makes your body feel energized all day long, which means having Biltong is a win-win situation for you.

Easy to carry

Whether you are going trekking, road trip camping or hiking, this superfood is ready to go wherever you go. You can enjoy this toothsome snack no matter where you go or what you are doing.