People mix them up all the time — but let’s get this straight: biltong and jerky aren’t the same thing. Not even close. Both are dried meat, sure, but that’s where the similarities end. One’s tough and smoky, the other’s rich, tender, and packed with real depth.
At Bracko’s, we don’t do jerky. We do biltong — and here’s why it leaves jerky in the dust.
The Origin Story
Jerky came out of the Americas — meat sliced thin, cooked or smoked to preserve it on the move. Biltong, on the other hand, comes from South Africa. The word literally means “strip of meat.” It’s air-dried, not cooked, and soaked in a vinegar-and-spice marinade before drying. That’s where the tang and deep savoury hit come from.
Same idea — keep the meat good for longer — but completely different process and taste.
The Texture Test
Jerky is chewy. Like, jaw workout chewy. It’s usually cooked at a high temperature, which tightens the fibres and leaves it dry.
Biltong? Soft, rich, and full of natural fat that melts in your mouth. You can actually taste the meat. It’s sliced thick, dried slowly, and left with that tender bite that keeps you coming back for “just one more piece.”
The Flavour Factor
Jerky’s all about the smoke. Biltong’s about the spice.
At Bracko’s, we use 100% Aussie marble score 6–7 wagyu, vinegar, coriander, pepper, and a few secret ingredients we’ll never write down. The result? Big umami flavour, balanced salt, and that slight tang that jerky just can’t match.
Where jerky often tastes like sauce, biltong tastes like meat — honest, pure, and properly seasoned.
The Nutrition Edge
No sugar, no smoke flavour, no fake shine. Just air-dried beef, done right.
Biltong packs serious protein (around 50% per serve), low carbs, and healthy fats thanks to that wagyu marbling. It’s real food — not something that came out of a factory.
The Verdict
If you’ve only ever had jerky, biltong is going to blow your mind. It’s everything jerky wishes it could be — richer, softer, and more flavourful. Once you’ve had the real thing, you’ll never go back to chewing on cardboard again.
Bracko’s isn’t jerky. It’s better.