EPIC Salmon Smoked Maple Strips, Wild Caught, Paleo Friendly, Protein Snacks, 20 Ct, 16 oz

I am stoked to see Amazon finally carrying the strips of the epic line. I initially had ordered both the Waygu and the Salmon after trying them at whole foods back in late January. I ordered through the epic website and was given a sampler of the four Flavors (even though I ordered the steak and the salmon). I hate turkey but ate it since I was hungry one day and it wasn't bad (probably great for those that love turkey). I was a bit thrown from the venison as I've eaten at several 5 star restaurants and have tried some outrageous things but wasn't sure if I ever tried venison. With my hesitation I took a small bite and it was shockingly delicious. When the strips became available again, I would just get the salmon maple strips from whole foods as they only had those and the turkey. Since j loved the venison so much I bought the little pack of the venison bites which are the same. They sell for $1.99 a piece (the strips) at whole foods and on the epic website (in a box of 20). I had my doubts with the salmon strip jerkey because I hated the salmon bar, but I love the lamb and the beef Apple bacon bar, so I wasn't sure I'd like the salmon strip. Between the waygu and the salmon it's a tough choice as I love them both, the only issue I have had with the salmon strips was about half a dozen I had purchased at whole foods had an awful taste like salmon tasted like vommit, not to be gross. I thought it had to do with maybe eating citrus before or something but it was a certain batch, and they weren't nearly close to the expiration date which was marked December of this year. I ate one the first time thinking my taste buds were off but then saw a pattern and would just keep those to the side and hopefully return them since something was off. I haven't had any other issues with any other products, I think it is prone to happen to a lot of prepackaged foods because you could end up eating an off piece of salmon cooked even if it's fresh. It hasn't stopped me from reordering and buying them and since it was just a select batch I am chalking it up to a bad salmon! I know these are supposed to be great for those that are highly active and need something on the go, for me they are great as a meal replacement if I'm lazy or a protein snack or dinner when eaten a few. They have great flavor, the venison has the least bit of fat and lowest in calories, but is a bit salty. The maple salon and the Waygu beef are my favorites and I strongly suggest any people that love a delicious jerky that is natural and not full of additives give these a try. Also the salmon maple bites I tried recently and they were delicious as well. I just prefer the strips or the bars in other Flavors. At around 100 calories per strip you really can't go wrong and these are super addictive. Update: 7/15 little after writing my review of the salmon, though I had not purchased my last and finale order from here, it was the second bad batch of salmon where only 2 out of 20 were editable. The salmon was definitely not good, it tasted as I mentioned like vomit and had to be spit out and almost had to pull the trigger to make sure nothing stayed In my body. It's something that I've had to stay away from which is a shame because aside from that I have had nothing but the best experience with the waygu beef strips - those are always amazing and fresh, and have ordered from Amazon and other sites. No complaints! I am now sticking to those, the maple bacon bits (those are super addicting!) the new cocoa and maple pork bites, and the beef Apple bacon bars. I'm steering clear of the salmon, the deer as I mentioned is tasty but I am just into the waygu and highly reccommend them- super filling low calorie and great meal replacement.

My husband and I always make sure to have these on hand. I have them on subscription so we never run out. They taste really good, they are on the tougher side, so not super moist to bite into, but the seasonings are great and doesn't contain citric acid or other fillers. Friendly for AIP diets if you can tolerate black pepper. Contains honey also. Really great recipe and they're great to keep in your bag or lunchbox. My husband brings them to work for an easy snack also. Even my kids ask if they can have them from time to time because they love them, but these are mommy and daddy's treats!! Lol!

(In the photos above, the one on the Left is what I was used to ordering, the one on the right is the new one that's awful. The size is different and you'd think it might be good that you're getting more, but it's awful. ) I have ordered this at least half a dozen times. It is a great snack to stave off hunger, it's small, easy to transport, and delicious. However, I ordered a jumbo package of these in advance of an event I would need snacks for, and when I finally got one out it was a different color than the previous ones I've had. It wasn't just the color that was different. The taste was different and the texture was extremely different. If they had tasted like this when I ordered my first box, I would never have ordered them again. They are terrible. And the texture is nothing resembling a meat product anymore, it is much more similar to a gummy like gushers. It sort of bursts as you bite it and it's very unnerving. Again, if it had tasted like this, I never would have ordered it again. I couldn't even force myself to finish the only piece I opened from the new box. And now I am stuck with 19 more of them that look exactly the same as that first one out of the box, and nothing like the ones from previous orders.

First of all, this isn't really beef jerky and nowhere do they state that it is. Simply put, it is not your typical beef jerky. I don't know how these are processed because there are not nitrates, nitrites, or even celery powder - which are the ingredients used for curing meat. Yes, these are ground and formed meat strips, just as it says on the box and on each individual strip wrapper. These lack all the extra preservatives and additives that other strips and jerkys have. And although some of the other meats that they have are flavored with cranberry, apple, or bacon, these don't have much flavoring at all. Just added honey, which keeps it from being totally vile. When I first opened the package, the scent was that of old time (not ancient) jerky. The way jerky looked and tasted in the 70s. But the flavor is really meaty/bloody tasting, with little hint of honey that makes it palatable. I'm not hating on this, it's rather not really too bad... just gotta get used to that bloody raw meaty taste. I've had their beef/bacon/cranberry bars and those were not edible. They were totally disgusting. Maybe it's because these are thinner and more like jerky (you get less of a mouthful) that I find them easier to swallow. I'v had quite a bit of their "bacon" bars (note, they are bars, not strips), and really wish they'd make the bacon bars thin like these strips as well. Although I like the bacon best, sometimes it's just too much... it's like spam but not as tasty. The texture of these is much better. Bottom line, if you expect these to taste like O'berto stips, then don't get them. If you expect something that tastes like a caveman's dinner, then this is it.

These are very good I highly recommend