The Rich History of Jerky and Today’s Jerky Brands

When it comes to choosing a snack that is quick, convenient, healthy, and full of protein, there are not many options that feel as ideal as jerky. Today, it is considered one of the simplest snacks, and people all over the world enjoy it for different reasons. It is easy to carry, filling, and perfect for road trips, hiking, camping, or busy days when you don’t have time to make proper meals. 

But not many people know that jerky has been around for centuries. In fact, long before it would become a packaged snack, it was already considered a practical way for people to preserve food and survive difficult conditions. 

In this article, we’ll discuss the history of this ancient survival food from its origins until it became a modern go-to snack.

Origins of Jerky

The name “jerky” itself is often associated with the word “ch’arki,” which is from Quechua, the language of indigenous people of Peru and other parts of South America. The word means “dried” or “salted meat,” and it basically explains what jerky was in its earliest form – meat that had been preserved so it could last longer.

In particular, the Incas, indigenous people in the Andes, used to cut the llama or alpaca meat into thin strips and dry them in the sun and cold mountain air in order to preserve them for a long time. They developed this method back in 1500 BCE so that they could always have food available that was light, easy to carry, full of needed nutrients, and could last much longer than fresh meat. 

Making dry meat quickly became common for communities that lived in the mountains, where food was scarce and surviving in long and cold winters wasn’t the easiest thing without specific preservation methods. 

In South America, this preserved meat also became known as charqui. Like ch’arki, it was supposed to be durable and portable for long distances.

Pemmican and Native American Preservation Traditions

Although the word “jerky” is usually connected to the South American ch’arki, they weren’t the only people who used to preserve dried meat. For instance, people in North America preserved meat with a method called pemmican. Similar to ch’arki, pemmican was also made from dried meat, and the aim was to make it last for a long time to provide people with energy during difficult conditions. But unlike jerky, it people mixed crushed dried meat with rendered fat and sometimes added dried berries as well. Depending on the region, people used various animals for this snack, such as bison, deer, or elk. But all types of pemmican were made to be useful for long journeys and harsh winters. 

Jerky on the Trail

By around the 1800s, jerky became an integral part of American frontier life. The thing is that people who traveled across long distances needed food that would not spoil quickly. Not surprisingly, European settlers, cowboys, traders, and soldiers, who were always used to moving long distances, couldn’t rely only on fresh meals. Jerky turned out to be the most convenient solution for them simply because it did not need refrigeration, took up little space, and could be eaten without any preparation.

Back then, jerky was perfect for this kind of lifestyle. People on the trail used to keep it in a bag, saddle, or supply kit and use it whenever they needed a quick source of energy. As a result, jerky became associated with the trail, and slowly, it became part of the culture of movement, survival, and adventure. 

That can explain why people still carry jerky during road trips, hikes, or camping trips even today, when surviving long winters isn’t a challenge anymore.

New Flavors of Jerky

As time passed, the need for survival food became less urgent. Still, the popularity of jerky as a snack increased more and more and reached its peak in the 20th century when snack brands started to package and sell it in stores and gas stations.

Some of the most popular jerky brands, such as Jack Link’s and Old Trapper, really turned jerky into a familiar everyday snack. Thanks to them, a real commercial jerky boom started in America, and suddenly this snack was everywhere. The popularity of jerky snacks quickly became an inspiration for brands to start experimenting with new flavors, and soon, modern variations of jerky entered the market, such as teriyaki, barbecue, peppered, chili, garlic, honey, jalapeño, maple, and many more. 

Modern Jerky Brands

The jerky market today is bigger and more varied than it’s ever been. These days, you can find hundreds of producers of jerky snacks that include better ingredients, unique marinades, and unusual types of meat. 

The range of meats, flavors, textures, and dietary profiles is genuinely impressive. What once used to be a classic dried meat has turned into a creative snack that offers plenty of gourmet and specialty options today. 

The contemporary varieties of jerky are so diverse that it’s hard to choose between hundreds of options. That’s why people often shop online at Jerky Brands, as it’s an online destination that brings together a wide selection of traditional and specialty jerkies, including beef, chicken, fish, exotic meats, and more. Online options like this give jerky enthusiasts a chance to explore just how creative the modern jerky market has become.

Bottom Line

Even though the modern jerky market is full of diverse flavors and brands, it’s certain that jerky 

has not lost its connection to the past. Today, it remains a snack built around the same old idea: to preserve meat in a way that makes it easy to carry, convenient to eat, and satisfying for people on the move.

Based on this, we can say that modern jerky is a mix of history, nostalgia, and creativity that never disappoints us. Somehow, the snack that crossed continents, fueled armies, and fed generations of people on the move still fascinates snack enthusiasts today with more creativity and variety than ever, and the story is still going.