Stick in a Box February 2015 Review ~ Who Knew Beef Jerky Could Be So Exotic?

Box is a beef jerky subscription that sends new and interesting beef jerkies, slabs and sticks each month.  This review is for the February 2015 box and it might have some of the most strange jerky flavors yet.

What You Get: At least 3 bags of jerky plus sticks and slabs from both name brands, and small batch companies, in traditional and out of this world flavors.

Your jerky arrives via Priority Mail which I love.  Fast jerky is better than slow, especially when I’m anxiously awaiting it.  This is one of my husbands favorite subscriptions because… well, jerky, of course!  Who doesn’t love jerky?

There is always a little note from the founder but no typical information card describing what you’ve received.  Probably because it’s obvious.  Obviously jerky!  This time around the note said that some subscribers received a bag of the hottest jerky in the world.  That was not me and I’m okay with that.

I’m starting with my favorite kind of jerky.  Moist and tender. Deliciously thick. Unfortunately, while the texture and appearance are just my style, the flavor was not.  No.  I love jerky but I want it to taste like… jerky.  This tastes like Pho.  My husband said it was really gross and tastes like Absolut Peppar vodka.  Aww.  It’s made with herbs like cilantro, mint and basil, spices like star anise, cinnamon, and cloves, and of jalapeno.
Value: $6.99

Also not my thing.  It’s made with rice vinegar, tamari, brown sugar, and a curry blend with tturmeric, coriander, fenugreek peppers giner, cloves, cardamom and other stuff.  This was better than the Pho but still…  I like my jerky smoky and delicious.
Value: $6.99

Robertson’s “Real” Beef Jerky–  First of all, I don’t know why ‘real’ is in quotes.  That would usually mean that it wasn’t actually real, amirite?  It’s beef, its jerky and it’s smoky.  I like it.  It’s actually too dry and thin but the flavor is good.  Too bad the Lawless doesn’t taste like this.  Now that would be the perfect combo.  Although this kind of tastes like fish sometimes.
Value: $3

Dusty’s Real Beef Jerky in Original– Another thin, dry jerky.  With lots of fat streaks.  I don’t like fat streaks.  I don’t like the flavor of this either.  So far I’ve only liked the Robertson’s.  Not a good sign.
Value: $3

Wild Joes Gourmet Beef Jerky “Cajun” Style– The package proclaims that this is gourmet beef jerky but no.  It’s not.  It’s decent and the cajun flavoring isn’t bad but it’s another thin and dry jerky. Plus, it’s a tiny package.  You are looking at the entire contents. Point eight ounces.
Value: $3

Pap’s Black Pepper and Milk Smokey Beef Sticks– Normally sticks are the last thing I end up liking but this box was kind of a dud for us and these might have been the best tasting things in here.
These were moist and flavorful and probably the best sticks I’ve gotten in a box so far. I don’t know how to describe it but the “chew” factor was good.  And there were no nerds. Actually, is ‘nerd’ a correct term?  It’s what my mom used to say when you find a hard bit in your hamburger or beef stick or hot dog.  I don’t know.  These were the best thing in the box.
VERDICT:  Sadly, this box was a total dud for us.  My husband said it was the “saddest parade of meat flesh” ever.  That was because he actually got to taste all the jerkies this time. Normally, I find one or two that I love and then eat most (or all) of it before he gets a chance.  This time there was nothing!

I suppose every subscription box has it’s dud months and this is what that was for us with Stick in a Box this time around.  This was our sixth month and with only one awful box, that’s actually a pretty good track record.