I was pleasantly surprised to learn of the existence of calamari jerky and thus accepted an offer to try some made by The Hermit.
The Hermit ($9.99 for a 2-oz. bag) is made from American wild-caught, MSC-certified squid and is sustainably sourced, all-natural and free from added sugar. It also boasts no artificial preservatives MSG or sorbitol. That means if you’re looking for clean protein, The Hermit provides it.
For reference, the name and product are derived from the travels of the company’s founder, who spent years traveling through East and Southeast Asia (like a hermit) and falling in love with the local dried squid preparations.
The calamari jerky is thinner than beef jerky and was not too chewy or tough. Each 2-oz. serving has 230-250 calories, 28-29 g. of protein and 13 g. of carbs.
I appreciated how unique the various flavors were:
- There was no doubt about the flavors of the Thai chili lime version. You can especially taste the lime juice and the lemongrass, while the Thai chili powder brings an enjoyable heat.
- The ginger scallion version was accompanied by some notes of garlic and onion. Essentially, it was familiar Szechuan flavors put on jerky. Yum!
- I didn’t get to try the Italian herb, but it’s described as being infused with organic lemon juice, olive oil and a blend of fragrant herbs.
You can purchase The Hermit Calamari Jerky on its website.
Photos by The Hermit
Tags: jerky
