Biltong: A taste of Southern hospitality

Biltong (pronounced "bill-tong") is a traditional South African snack where meat (beef in our case) is marinated in spices and vinegar then is left to air dry in a controlled environment until its ready. 

Biltong was originally made as a way to preserve meat, but the unique taste means that it is still prepared and sold despite modern preservation techniques. Farmhouse Biltong is one of the first producers of high-quality biltong and other dried meat snacks in Kenya. 

Biltong is an ideal snack for all meat-allowing diets and because it is naturally high in protein and low in sugar it’s also the perfect pre and post work out snack. It is gluten-free, keto-friendly, low fat and high flavour. As far as nutritional facts go for biltong, in general, it's normally much healthier than jerky, as it tends to be much leaner.

What is the difference between Biltong and Jerky?

Biltong and Jerky are similar in that they are both dried meats. The taste and the production process, however, is different. Biltong originates from South Africa, whereas Jerky originates from North and South America. In terms of texture, there is a vast difference. 

Biltong is, in its basic form, a dried steak, which is then cut to eat. This means you can have it wet or ‘rare’, medium, or hard ‘well done’ biltong. However, as jerky is cut then dehydrated anywhere from 3-8 hours, it makes for an overall drier product.

It’s also usually Jerky can be made from either whole meat or minced meat. Biltong is traditionally marinated in vinegar and spices that add extra flavour to the meat. While jerky often has a dry and smoky taste. This is the key difference, Biltong is hung and air-dried, while jerky is cooked on a rack.

The Brand Inspiration and early days

The company started when the love for this snack was made more accessible by producing biltong in our kitchen for personal consumption. As fate would have it, family members and friends really liked the product and started putting in orders. It went from just pocket money to be a good business idea and production went to a more commercial and controlled environment to ensure correct standards were followed.

Where is it made?

Our biltong is all hand-made from the beginning to the end – this means we can ensure the best product possible and make sure that every packet you buy is as good as the last one. We make our biltong using the finest Laikipia beef and imported spices. Our biltong is currently made in Nanyuki and Gilgil. This allows us to send it throughout the country and hopefully to the rest of east Africa soon.

How much does it cost? 

Farmhouse biltong is currently sold in country farm shops around Kenya but is also sold in gyms, supermarkets in Nanyuki, sports clubs, and a few butcheries. You will hopefully start seeing the product online in your favourite health shops and in supermarkets soon. There are various packet sizes, but the most popular is the 100g packet retails as Sh550, probably because it is a good snack size.