Our wagyu beef biltong is highly marbled which is what gives it a unique tenderness and buttery flavour.

Wagyu is a breed of cattle native to Japan that is fed for about 600 days after weaning. The cows are put in a zen-like environment where there is little stress (the rise in cortisol levels caused from stress can cause the meat to deteriorate.) This is so that the cow burns less fat and achieves the correct marbling.

HISTORY

The art of curing meat is a tradition that’s been perfected for over four hundred years. It started with our sailing Dutch forefathers. They found soaking meat in vinegar before massaging it with salt was the only way to keep raw meat while at sea for months at a time. At first, they would rehydrate the meat before cooking it. However, while journeying across Africa, the Voortrekkers learned to save time by carving and enjoying it as it was. We’d like to think of it as the inspiration for our Award-Winning Original Beef Biltong.

The original marinade consisted only of salt, spice, and vinegar. Of course, tradition gave way to experimentation and before long the procured seasonings from the spice routes were added to create different flavour profiles.

Even though Emory St. Marcus started making Biltong over 30 years ago, we still find creating new lines an exciting endeavour. This is mainly because Biltong always remains at the forefront of our business. We’re always striving to bring a piece of home to South Africans living abroad.