Australian Hiker

Rating

Chief Organic Biltong Review

Its been a while since I’ve taste tested any sort of dried meat and this is the first time I have tried biltong as opposed to jerky so the first thing I needed to do was understand the difference. Biltong is air dried and cured in a vinegar marinade and this results in a more tender and succulent product. Jerky is typically heat dried or smoked which is a faster process creating a chewier texture and for us, this panned out to be true.

We opted for the sample pack which comes with four flavours:

• 1 x 30 gram Chipotle and Lime flavour
• 1 x 30 gram Chilli flavour
• 1 x 30 gram Traditional flavour
• 1 x 30 gram Smokey BBQ flavour

If you are new to Chief as a company, this is a good way test out the range so you can work out what suits your individual taste. There is a fifth option called ‘Carnivore’ which we haven’t tried and this one has a slightly higher protein level so we will hopefully try that one out in the near future.

Texture wise as expected, this biltong does have a bit of chewiness to it but nothing like you get with jerky – this is why we gave up on jerky many years ago. We both thought that the texture, and for that matter the flavour was better than the numerous jerky options we had tried over the years. The four flavours and our opinions are listed below.

It’s worth noting that I’m (Tim) a spice lover and Gill isn’t which means she probably reflects the average hiker more than I do. This came out in the taste test with both of us ranking the different flavours differently.

Negative wise there really only is one and that’s the price.

As you would expect biltong, because of its manufacturing process, would be dearer than a typical jerky but dried meat is going to be up there in price anyway. Keep in mind that this biltong uses organic meat (no added hormones) with minimal preservatives, and a high level of animal welfare with the meat used. The product we tested was a sample pack of four but if you really like it, buy the larger packs at a greatly reduced price. So while this isn’t a cheap option, you are paying for a premium product!

I’m always a bit reticent to dry my own meat and in all honesty the lack of time is a big issue for me so I’d rather purchase a commercially made product.

Apart from taste and texture, the bonus of using biltong as a snack is that it helps to keep up the protein intake which is particularly important on long distance hikes. As mentioned I had gone off jerky over the years but this product has enthused me to add biltong to my hiking menu even if it’s only every second day to provide a bit of variety and to keep the protein up.

Chief Organic Biltong four pack image. This sample pack includes:

• 1 x 30 gram Chipotle and Lime flavour
• 1 x 30 gram Chilli flavour
• 1 x 30 gram Traditional flavour
• 1 x 30 gram Smokey BBQ flavour

Chief Organic Biltong showing serving sizes  and texture

• Top left – Chipotle and Lime
• Bottom left – Smokey BBQ
• Top right – Traditional
• Bottom right – Chilli

Chipotle and Lime

He said: As a chipotle base I would have expected hot and spicy but in this case there was good mild taste but little heat. This flavour will suit everyone so don’t be put off by the name. Chief rate this flavour as mild, and it is. For me I ranked this as my second choice.

She said: I agree this is mild although the spiciness does creep up on you. The texture of biltong is good – not too crispy and not too chewy! Chipotle ad Lime is my number one – I really like the subtle hint of lime!

Chief  Organic Biltong Chipotle and Lime flavour nutrition and ingredients panel

Smokey BBQ

He said: Very mild smokey, not strong and no heat. Will suit most hikers. My third choice.

She said: The flavour of this one is very subtle which I quite like. It seems a little flakier than the other varieties but that doesn’t detract from the taste. I would put this number two on my preference list just ahead of the Traditional flavour.

Chief Organic Biltong Smokey BBQ flavour nutrition and ingredients panel

Traditional flavour

He said: Flavour wise probably the blandest of the lot, tastes like traditional dried meat hence the flavour name. My fourth choice out of the flavours tested but if you like your taste mild then this will suit.

She said: This one is very much what you would expect from a biltong and a little chewier than the other flavours. I could imagine myself eating more of this one in a single sitting. Great for those who don’t like spice. This is number three on my list but only by a very small margin!

Chief Organic Biltong traditional flavour nutrition and ingredients panel

Chilli flavour

He said: Chief class this heat level as medium and certainly out of the four that we tested this was the spiciest. I have a high spice tolerance and found this one really suited even if it wasn’t what I’d call hot but the heat does creep up on you the more you eat and so does the flavour. If you don’t like a bit of heat then you may find this one not for you. If you are a spice/heat lover then you’ll be happy with it. My pick of the bunch!

She said: I found this one too far on the spicy side for me. Add to that it’s tougher to chew which means it needs to stay longer in your mouth and you get even more spice! If you’re not a spice fan you should skip this one. This is my least favourite but only because of the spice.

Chief Organic Biltong Chilli flavour nutrition and ingredients panel

Chief Organic Biltong open packets showing the texture of this biltong

We Like

• Good flavours
• Packaging is very convenient and for me, one packet equals a daily allotment of biltong
• The beef is also easy to eat and you don’t have to gnaw at it like you do with some brands
• Organic and no artificial preservatives or additives so it doesn’t taste ‘manufactured’
• Bulk buying brings the price down

We Don't Like

• The only real negative is the expense
• Commercially prepared biltong is expensive compared to homemade versions however I don’t have the time to make it
• Provided the taste is good I will prefer to purchase

Best Uses

Multi day trips where you need the extra protein

Buy One

You can purchase Chief Organic Biltong from outdoor stores as well as purchasing online from Chief Nutrition

Disclosure:  We may earn a small commission, at no additional expense to you, if you click through and make a purchase. Please note that our affiliations do not influence, in any way, the independence of our reviews. If we don’t like a product, you’ll hear about it from us!

Investment

• $24.95 AUD – four pack- 30 gram packs (total of 120 grams of biltong) – great taste testing option
• $65.95 AUD – 12 pack purchase pack- 30 gram packs (total of 360 grams of biltong)
• $71.96 AUD – 12 pack purchase pack- 90 gram packs (total of 540 grams of biltong)
• $242.68 AUD – 48 pack 30 gram packs (total of 1440 grams of biltong)

Disclaimer

This review was done with product provided by the Australian distributor of Chief

Last updated

14 September 2025

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