The health benefits of eating biltong
This article has been written by Sara from the Chichester Biltong Company, the leading bulk supplier of British beef biltong in the UK. Please quote 'FITNESS' in the voucher code box at the checkout.
Buy biltong in bulk in the UK to get it cheap and delivered to you
We all know now how important protein is to the body, and even more so for those on a strict fitness regime. Gathering the required amount of protein for your body mass may seem like a daunting task; exactly how many whole chickens can one eat in a day?
Chickens, you have just met your match.
Introducing biltong; originally from South Africa this dried beef snack has the most phenomenal amounts of protein per 100g for a naturally produced snack.
Meet the snack perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner, pre gym, post gym, whatever. The levels are insane. With 56.6 grams of protein for every 100g in medium, no fat biltong and the most amazing taste sensations we just have to ask, where have you been all our lives?
Born out of necessity in the hot climate of South Africa, the Dutch settlers needed a way to keep their meat edible - without time travel to the year of the 'fridge'. They devised a method of simply hanging the meat out to dry, capturing all the amazing flavours of the meat in the inside and allowing the outside to become hard. This meant the meat lasted for months and the first biltong taste addiction began.
Hundreds of years later the craze has continued to spread, with insane flavours and spices to accompany the amazing textures the dried meat creates. Chilli, Peri Peri and Garlic as well as it's simply original flavour are the favourites nowadays, with the choice consistency being yet another dimension you can choose.
There is an existing market for dried meat out there. The Chichester Biltong Company already hold a very loyal South African expat customer base, but have noticed an increasing rate of new custom in the healthy eating and bodybuilding sector, with customers reading about the health benefits of snacking on products such as biltong instead of high fat and sugar content snacks. The high protein content appeals to bodybuilders, walkers, athletes... basically anyone looking to stay in shape.
The carefully perfected manufacturing process now takes 7-10 days. The idea is we are able to choose just how dry the biltong actually is, dry, wet or medium.
What is dry biltong?
Dry means the biltong is dry through, tough but delicious
What is wet biltong?
Wet means the biltong isn't dry all the way through, just the outside with a raw taste in the centre of the slices - a must for meat lovers!
What is medium biltong?
Medium is the in between, not too dry, not too wet - perfect for first timers
The difference between biltong and beef jerky
Do not confuse biltong with beef jerky, it may look and sound the same but beef jerky is marinated and boiled for hours in vats of sugary sticky concoctions. Which has zero health benefits.
Speaking of health benefits, biltong has zero carbs and the option to go sugar and gluten free. Yes you heard right, a protein snack perfect for post gym that is zero carbs.
If it's the beef you are worried about, the beef used at The Chichester Biltong Company is grass fed, closed herd, LOCAL silverside or topside British Beef. No worries there. The beef is cut into strips and air-dried with natural spices and is wonderfully simple and true to the quality of the ingredients used. Like horseradish? The Chichester Biltong Company have just launched this brand new flavour which is available to buy now!
Get 10% EXTRA FREE biltong on your first order at the Chichester Biltong Company with discount code 'atthehollows10' and try it for yourself! This discount code is valid until September 22nd 2012. Bulk discounts are available (i.e. it is cheaper to buy 500g than it is to buy 2x250g or 5x100g) and there is free delivery on orders over £60.
How to store biltong at home
If you're buying biltong in bulk such as 2kg, the best way to store biltong is to separate it into portions (i.e. 100g) and put the biltong into bags or tubs. Then store them in the freezer. Take out the biltong you require for the day the night before and let it 'breathe' on a plate so it can come back to room temperate and allow the moisture to evaporate accordingly.
Buying biltong in bulk, online, in the UK with the Chichester Biltong Company
Simon Smith, South African biltong fanatic, brought his top secret recipes over with himself from Johannesburg, to his farm in Chichester. Handed down through generations of his family with influences from fascinating stories handed down through generations and interesting first hand experiences, Simon has perfected the moreish snack over 25 years and loves the ability to share the love with the UK.
The business has now grown and expanded greatly since its creation and the Chichester Biltong Company now sits in beautiful countryside on the farm in the Southdowns. A great team of biltong lovers spend their days producing the biltong with such tender loving care its no wonder how popular the brand has become.
As a keen cyclist, Simon values the nutritional benefits biltong has to offer as a no carbs alternative to fill a hungry stomach. His favorite flavour is chilli biltong, medium with a little fat. He believes that Biltong will be the UK's next big food craze!
The Chichester Biltong Company uses 200g of beef in every 100g of finished biltong, salt, pepper, vinegar, nutmeg, coriander, chilli, garlic and sugar. A tiny percentage of sodium nitrate is used to keep the biltong at its best. All these ingredients create a tasty and yet natural snack that can cut out hunger, provide crucial nutrients and taste delicious to all who try.
The Chichester Biltong Company testimonials
Richard Piper, journalist for the Food and Drink Industry - "It's always a pleasure to find passionate producers of my favourite things to eat, and biltong is high on the list. The quality of the ingredients used to make Chichester Biltong really shine through, and best of all you can choose to have some fat left intact!"
Jamie Noon, English Rugby International - "I buy my Biltong from the Chichester Biltong Company - it's authentic, fresh and handmade. It gives me a great protein kick when I'm training, the 56.6g of protein in every 100g of biltong helps me maintain optimum fitness levels. And with only 1.76g of fat in my 40g serving, there's no other zero carb snack out there to compete... and the taste is pretty addictive too."
The best biltong online in the UK
Here are some other biltong brands and suppliers if you would like to shop elsewhere (as recommended by At The Hollows and not the Chichester Biltong Company). Some of the best biltong brands in the UK include Bundu biltong, Myprotein biltong and Coan Beef biltong. Various flavours and sizes are available from each retailer.