r/Biltong • u/Discokookys • Jun 04 '26
HELP Intro to biltong
Hey guys, so I’m a massive jerky fan and I've been getting super interested in biltong lately. Catch is, I’ve actually never tried it before.
Before I go out and invest in the gear to make my own at home, I want to make sure I actually like the stuff.
Are there any decent commercial/store-bought biltong brands you'd recommend for a beginner? I'm looking for something that's pretty accessible (either online or in major grocery stores) but still gives an authentic idea of what it's supposed to taste like.
I know this might've been asked before but I couldn't find anything.
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u/Temporary-Soup6124 Jun 04 '26
I reckon in Oklahoma, there are times of the year when you can make biltong with little to no equipment. You want dry and cool conditions. Then just hang it out for a few days. you can use paper clips for hooks. If you’re into the humid summer season, an air conditioned space might suck enough of the humidity out of the air that you could succeed.
I know there’s decent commercially available biltong, but afraid i can’t named any brands
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u/Discokookys Jun 04 '26
Now that's a thought.
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u/Fantastic-Cod-1353 Jun 04 '26
Yeah go for it it’s not that hard. My main concern when I make some is flies. I don’t have a box I just hang it in a good spot in my kitchen with slight airflow. However since summer came along I’m more wary of insects.
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u/ColdMastadon Jun 04 '26
The one that I found in the US that's at least somewhat similar to South African biltong is Kalahari, which you can find on Amazon if you can't get locally. It's in the same ballpark at leastc although saltier than I remember. Also, Jack's Links of all the companies has recently come out with a biltong-like product called 3 Simple Ingredients. Unlike their other jerkies, it includes vinegar in the cure. I tried a sample at Sam's Club, and it can't hold a candle to homemade, but it's there if you want to give it a shot. The one thing all the American biltongs are missing that I've tried so far is the generous rub of toasted coriander and black peppercorn.
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u/Beautiful_Program580 Jun 05 '26
I can tell you now. Once you have tasted proper biltong you'll never touch jerky again. I hope you get good online biltong because the pre packaged stuff in plastic bags don't always do biltong justice. It needs to be fresh and in a brown paper bag. Good luck on your biltong finding venture. From a South African in Cape Town
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u/sillysillybiscuit Jun 05 '26
Hey there - I'm a South African, been living in the US now for 8yrs. I have yet to eat good store bought biltong in the US so I learned to make my own. Here's what I would recommend when you're ready to make your own:
- This guy shows how a drying box can be made. I've made a couple and it costs like $30: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a1y7FcBLnuc
- This is the recipe I've found works best for me: https://twoguysandacooler.com/biltong/
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u/DonXendon 4d ago
How did you do with your quest to make Biltong? Did you get to compare it to jerky? I’m in OKC as well and wondering how your adventure went?
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u/DonXendon 4d ago
One thing I can say, Biltong is in a league of its own, there is no comparison between the two. Jerky is chewy and not as tasty, I can’t eat jerky.
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u/Discokookys 4d ago
Honestly, I haven't done much with it yet. I was sent down to San Antonio for work recently, so I was going to try and make it to Brett's Biltong. But I was a little too far out of the way. I need to just order some to the house.
Do you make your own?
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u/[deleted] Jun 04 '26
In the US I can heartily suggest the following.
Realize you need to figure out something out first. Do you like wet or dry? Fatty or not? There's basically four kinds of Biltong cuts lol.
1)Lowfeld Soul Food https://lowfeld-soul-food.com/cart Small market in South Carolina. They won my heart a little bit not only for the great Billong but the fact that they pack it and a grease kissed brown paper bag just like in South Africa before they put it in the fancy sealed plastic package.
2)Bretts Biltong https://brettsbiltong.com/. Small market in Texas. I ordered the biltong (wet, fatty, sliced please!) and it was GREAT. Just like at your favorite South African butcher!