What People Ask Us in the Shop
What exactly is Biltong?
Biltong is air-dried meat. It is not jerky.
It is made using salt, vinegar, and spices, then air-dried slowly. It is not cooked, smoked, or loaded with sugar.
The goal is to preserve good meat and let it taste like meat.
Is Biltong safe to eat if it’s not cooked?
Yes.
All meat is FDA-inspected. Biltong is preserved through curing and air-drying, which is the traditional method. This process has been used for generations and is very different from raw meat sitting out. If you have questions, we are happy to explain without giving a science lecture.
Where is your meat from?
All of our meat are FDA-inspected, Grass Fed, Pasture Raised and sourced from family owned farms in the United States.
We start with quality meat because there is no fixing it later. If the meat is good going in, the final product is even better coming out!
How is Biltong different from Jerky?
Jerky is usually cooked, smoked, sweetened, or heavily processed.
Biltong is air-dried, lightly seasoned, and not sweet. If you are expecting jerky, this will taste different.
Most people decide pretty quickly which one they prefer.
How is your Biltong made?
We do not rush the process.
We start with good meat. We cut it by hand, season it simply, and air-dry it slowly. We do not use fillers, preservatives, or flavor masking. What you taste is the meat, the marinade, and the spices.
Why does this batch look darker or lighter than the last one?
Because it is real food.
Different animals, different cuts, and even different weather conditions affect how Biltong dries. We do not try to make every batch look identical, because that usually means shortcuts and additives.
Which Biltong should I start with?
That depends on how you like your meat. There is no wrong choice, only personal preference.
If you like lean, start there. If you like fat, go for fatty cuts. If you like softer biltong, choose a wetter option. If you like it dry, tell us that too.
We suggest starting with sliced Biltong and trying one of the sampler pack selections.
What is Droëwors
Droëwors is dried sausage.
It uses similar spices to boerewors, but it is air-dried instead of cooked. It tends to disappear quickly once opened. This is normal.
What is Boerewors?
Boerewors is a raw South African sausage meant for grilling.
It is not dried and should be cooked before eating. If you are planning a proper braai, this is where you start.
Where are your spices from?
Our spices blends are made in-house, based on traditional South African profiles. We focus on freshness and consistency, not novelty. If a spice does not add something meaningful, it does not make it into the mix.
How long does biltong last?
The honest answer is usually not very long, because it gets eaten.
Fully dry biltong is shelf-stable, but the flavor suffers. Ours is moist and when refrigerated, it stays fresh for many weeks to months.
What do “best by” dates mean on your products?
Best by dates are about quality, not safety.
Biltong can remain safe past that date if stored properly, but flavor and texture are best when eaten fresh. We put dates on our products so you know when they are at their peak.
Do you ship?
Yes, we ship nationwide. Our Shipping Information is individualized per area.
What you buy online is the same product we sell in our shop, made the same way, packed carefully, and sent out as quickly as possible.
How many ice packs are required for shipping?
It depends on the order, the products, and the weather. The easy answer is 1 ice pack to 2 lbs of Biltong or Perishable products.
All Frozen Items require Ice-Packaging & maximum 2 day shipping!
If you have concerns about shipping during extreme heat, reach out. We would rather talk it through than have something arrive in poor shape.
Do you offer gifting options?
Yes, Biltong makes a solid gift, especially for people who are hard to buy for.
We offer gift options found under the Biltong Bundles category.
Why don’t you sell South African Imported Biltong?