Jerky

This delicious snack is made with lean meat that is trimmed of fat, cut into thin strips, dried, and salted to preserve it. There is evidence that jerky was consumed and prepared in ancient Egypt, and it is known to have been a popular food among Native American civilizations.

It would be made when game was plentiful, and the dried, salted meat could be stored to help them survive the winter when hunting or farming was impossible. Jerky was also ideal as it was easy to transport, which perfectly suited the nomadic lifestyle of many Native American tribes.

The first Europeans to make dried meat on American soil were Spanish conquistadors, whose dried meat staple food was called charque. This word later evolved into jerky in the English language. Today, jerky is mass-produced in carefully controlled environments and prepared by artisans as well.

It is made using various meats, marinades, and curing processes, and is available in numerous different flavors. Although it is extremely popular in the United States and Canada, jerky is becoming more and more common in Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.