June 12 National Jerky Day #NationalJerkyDay
Charlie is going to be s happy this morning when I tell him June 12th is National Jerky Day #NationalJerkyDay. Were doing a #FamilyDay at the movies and Jerky is the perfect snack to take with us because everyone likes it. Would you like to join us today for at least 2 movies if not 3 or even 4 movies.
National Jerky Day is celebrated on June 12th. Which in my family is a cause for celebration for meat lovers. For centuries and across cultures, people have been finding ways to preserve their meat (before the days of the refrigerator). National Jerky Day seeks to celebrate one of the most successful ways of doing so. By curing and drying meat. Essentially Jerky which can refer to any meat including Alligator, and even Kangaroo You name a type of meat and I’m sure it has been cut into strips, dehydrated, and then cured. Some variants have flavors added to them, while some are also smoked. Either way, Jerky is a food that is gaining popularity as people recognize the practical (and health) benefits of this meaty treat.
National Jerky Day was first founded in 2012, by two major meat companies Jack Link’s Beef Jerky and the Wisconsin Beef Council. The idea behind National Jerky Day was not only to increase sales but to celebrate the growing rise in popularity of dried meat snacks all over. According to some consumer surveys, the demand for meat snacks now comes second only to that of Potato Chips, which is Jerky deserves a day of its own!
Historically, we have only to think of any hunter-gatherer communities or nomadic tribes and dried meat comes to mind as the main element of their diets. Hence methods of curing and drying meat have also been around for centuries. This is the best way to preserve meat, reduce its bulk, and also carry it on the go.
The word ‘jerky’ itself gets its origins from the ancient Incan language Quechua, where the term ‘ch’arki’ was used to refer to ‘dried, salted meat’. Once the Spanish came to South America, they changed the word to ‘charqui,’ which was then anglicized into the word ‘Jerky.’ The invention of beef Jerky is now commonly attributed to South America in the 1800s, however, there have been versions of Jerky invented across history and people groups. For example, many Native American tribes also made their own Jerky out of Buffalo Meat. They would combine this with dried fruits and Suet which is hard fat of Beef)to make a food called ‘Pemmican’. This would last long and be ideal for traveling because it was both nutritious and portable.
Today, there is a huge market for Jerky in its different forms across the world. A peek into any meat-eating culture might show you different methods of preparing dried meat but, at the end of the day, it’s all forms of Jerky. Across the U.S. itself, every gas station, supermarket, and convenience store is bound to have a selection of Jerky, elevating snacking to another level.
HOW TO CELEBRATE NATIONAL JERKY DAY
- If there’s a particular brand or flavor of Jerky that you stick to, we dare you to try something new. Visit nearest convenience or variety store and surprise yourself by choosing a different flavor or type of Jerky. If you feel particularly adventurous, try Kangaroo, Alligator, Hawaiian, or caffeinated Jerky.
- Expand your horizons and culinary skills by reading up on different ways to make Jerky. Then pick one and experiment. Jerky does not always have to be eaten as a snack. Did you know Jerky can be used as an ingredient in Soups, and Stews, etc. as well; especially if you’re doing an outdoor cookout.
- In 2010, in Amarillo, Texas, Dyron and Kelly Howell discovered 10 hungry kids and realized that more than 3,200 children in the City’s school district relied on school meals for their daily food. Together with the Beef and dairy community, as well as charities that provided kids with food packs, SP4K was formed. The organization now provides protein-rich ‘snack packs’ for kids, which include Jerky specifically, SP4K Beef Stiks, offered by Clint and Sons, a meat company.
JERKY FROM AROUND THE WORLD
- Pemmican is made by Native American tribes, this version combines dried meat, fats, and berries.
- Coppiette is a Italian meat stick are seasoned with salt, fennel, and red pepper flakes, then dried by the fireplace in pairs.
- Quant’a is the Ethiopian version where meat strips are seasoned with salt, black pepper, and a special spice mix called Berbere.
- Kilish is Beef strips dipped in a sauce of Peanuts, Onion, and Spices, then dried. This is popular in Nigeria and Niger.
- Biltong is a South African Beef Jerky that gets its name from the Dutch for ‘rump’ and ‘tongue’ a vinegared jerky. If it contains Tongue you can bet your bottom dollar Charlie and I will not try it. How about you?
WHY PEOPLE LOVE NATIONAL JERKY DAY
- Not only is Jerky easy to pack and carry around, but Jerky can also be marketed anywhere.
- Jerky wins over other salty snacks like Popcorn and savory Pretzels, so you know we’re not just trying to promote it.
- The great thing about Jerky is how versatile it can be. Not only are there a myriad of different recipes and methods for preparing Jerky, but there are also flavors galore, which make Jerky the perfect food to experiment in the kitchen with. If pre-packaged jerky is more your speed, there’s enough variety in that department to have your head spinning too!
- Not only is Jerky a 75% reduction of the weight of the meat due to it being dehydrated, but it’s also great for keeping the weight off you! Densely packed with all the protein goodness and other nutrients that meat has, Jerky is a light snack, both literally and figuratively, as it has health benefits including being low in fat and high in protein.
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
