Which biltong flavor should I try first?

Every flavor starts from the same grass-fed beef, air-dried the traditional South African way. What changes is the seasoning, and that's really the only decision in front of you. Five flavors, one first bag. Here's how to actually pick instead of guessing.

If this is your first bag of biltong ever, start with Original

Original (Pepper Coriander) is the flavor everything else gets measured against: toasted coriander, a touch of allspice, nothing fighting for attention. It's the closest thing to biltong in its purest form, which is exactly why it's the right starting point. Order one of the bolder flavors first and you won't have a baseline to compare it to — you'll spend your first bag guessing whether you like biltong or just that specific flavor. Start with Original, then branch out once you know what "plain" tastes like.

Like bold and savory? Go Steakhouse

Steakhouse (Garlic) leads with garlic, then rosemary and cracked black pepper underneath. It's built for anyone who thinks Original tastes a little quiet, or who wants their biltong to taste like something off a steakhouse menu rather than a snack aisle. If you already know you gravitate toward savory, garlicky flavors in everything else you eat, skip Original and start here instead.

Want something lighter? Lemon Pepper

This is the brightest flavor in the lineup — lemon and cracked pepper instead of a heavier spice blend. It's also the one we hear about most from people who don't normally go for jerky-style snacks, since the citrus cuts through the richness of the beef rather than piling onto it. If dense, heavy snacks aren't usually your thing, this is the flavor most likely to change your mind about meat snacks in general.

Actually like heat? Peri Peri

Garlic, ginger, and chili, layered rather than dumped on top. This isn't a mild-with-a-warning-label kind of spicy. If you're not sure about your tolerance, don't start here. Start here only if you already know the answer, or if the first thing you check on any menu is the chili icon count.

Want plain, or need to check ingredients? Naked

Just grass-fed beef, apple cider vinegar, and salt. No spice blend at all. Naked exists for two kinds of people: those who want to taste the beef itself with nothing standing in the way, and anyone reading ingredient labels closely for allergy or dietary reasons. It's also the one to grab if you're cooking it into something else, since it won't clash with whatever else is in the dish.

Still can't decide? That's what the Variety Pack is for

This is the easiest way out of the decision, and honestly the one we'd recommend to most first-time buyers. Instead of committing to a full bag of one flavor, the Variety Pack (or the smaller Starter Pack) lets you taste your way through the lineup before you settle on a regular order. Most people who start here end up reordering whichever flavor surprised them — usually not the one they expected going in.

Flavor picked. Now there's a second decision: cut

Once you know your flavor, format is the next question most people don't think to ask. Original comes in three cuts: Steak Slices (the traditional cut, more chew), Skinny Sticks (thinner, built for grabbing on the way out the door), and Tender Strips (cut for an easier bite). If Original is the one that convinces you, it's worth trying more than one format before deciding what becomes your standing order — the flavor stays the same, but how it eats changes more than you'd expect.