If you have ever stood in front of a shelf of jerky wondering whether to reach for beef, pork or chicken — and whether a firm slice of jerky or a softer meat stick suits you better — you are not alone. They are all real-meat snacks, and every one we sell is high in protein, but each has its own character. The short answer: beef is the bold classic, pork is milder, chicken is the mildest of the three, and meat sticks are softer than jerky. Below, we walk through the differences in plain terms, with the figures printed on every NAKOTNE pack, so you can choose what actually fits your taste and your day.
A quick word first: every NAKOTNE jerky and meat stick we sell is made in Latvia by the IFS Food certified meat processor SIA "Gaļas pārstrādes uzņēmums Nākotne", from EU-origin meat, and is dried and hot-smoked. Each product is sold as a pack of 8 × 35 g pouches. They are snacks — a tasty part of a varied, balanced diet, not a meal replacement.
The three meats: beef, pork and chicken
The biggest difference between the varieties is the meat itself. Here is how they tend to compare.
Beef jerky
Beef is the classic. It has the deepest, most savoury, slightly mineral flavour and a robust chew that stands up well to bold seasoning. Our beef jerky comes in four flavours: Original, Barbeque, Jalapeño and Teriyaki. It is concentrated, too: it takes 210 g of beef to make 100 g of Beef Jerky Original and 153 g for each of the other three flavours, and our Pork Jerky Original is more concentrated still, at 250 g of pork per 100 g. If you want the traditional jerky experience — rich, meaty and full-flavoured — beef is the natural starting point. Explore the range in our beef jerky collection.
Does beef jerky contain pork? Ours does not. The only meat in the ingredients of every NAKOTNE beef jerky is beef ham (origin: EU); "ham" here names the cut, from the hind leg, not pork. The same producer also makes pork products and the packs make no halal claim, so bear that in mind if you avoid pork for religious reasons.
Pork jerky
Pork sits in the middle. It is a touch milder than beef, and the meat itself is often described as slightly sweet, yet our Pork Jerky Original has just 1.3 g of sugars per 100 g, against 11.7–29.1 g in our beef jerky. It is made from pork loin: it takes 250 g of pork to make 100 g, and the result has 53.7 g of protein per 100 g. It is a great pick if you find beef a bit intense but still want real depth and a proper chew, and a good way to add variety to a snack rotation.
Chicken jerky
Chicken is the mildest of the three. As jerky, it has a clean, delicate flavour and a finer texture, which makes it easy to eat if you prefer something less rich, and it pairs well with tangy or herby seasonings. We don't currently sell chicken jerky, though. Our chicken option is NAKOTNE Chicken Sticks, made from chicken fillet: it takes 179 g of chicken to make 100 g.
Jerky vs meat sticks: the format matters too
Once you have picked a meat, the second decision is format — and it changes the eating experience as much as the meat does.
Jerky
Traditional jerky is sliced and dried into firm, chewy pieces. It has a more pronounced, drawn-out bite that many people love, and it is the format to reach for when you want that classic, slow chew — at your desk, on a walk, or packed for a trip. We sell it in beef (four flavours) and pork (Original).
Meat sticks
Meat sticks are usually made from finely chopped, seasoned meat formed into a stick. The result is softer and less fibrous than sliced jerky, with a smooth, easy chew that is quick and mess-free to eat on the go. They are a good option for anyone who prefers a gentler texture, or for those moments when you just want something simple to grab. Ours come in three meats, all dried and hot-smoked: beef sticks (Original, Cheese & Chives, Thai Sweet Chilli), pork sticks (Bacon, Paprika, Sour Cream & Onion) and Chicken Sticks.
A simple way to choose
- Want the boldest, most traditional flavour? Choose beef.
- Prefer something milder, but still rich? Choose pork.
- After something mild and delicate? Choose chicken — in our range, that means Chicken Sticks.
- Love a firm, long-lasting, chewy bite? Choose jerky.
- Prefer a soft, smooth, grab-and-go snack? Choose meat sticks.
- Not sure? Mix and match — a pack of each is the easiest way to find your favourite — or start with one of our mix boxes, such as the Beef Mix or the Party Mix.
What about nutrition?
Every NAKOTNE jerky and meat stick is high in protein, but the exact figures — protein, fat, sugar and salt — differ from product to product depending on the meat and the seasoning. Here they are side by side, per 100 g, as printed on the packs:
| Product | Meat used to make 100 g | Energy | Protein | Fat | Sugars | Salt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beef Jerky Original | 210 g beef | 273 kcal | 41.6 g | 4.1 g | 11.7 g | 3.7 g |
| Beef Jerky Barbeque | 153 g beef | 296 kcal | 34.8 g | 4.0 g | 27.8 g | 6.5 g |
| Beef Jerky Jalapeño | 153 g beef | 290 kcal | 33.9 g | 3.6 g | 29.1 g | 4.0 g |
| Beef Jerky Teriyaki | 153 g beef | 282 kcal | 34.6 g | 3.1 g | 26.4 g | 7.5 g |
| Pork Jerky Original | 250 g pork | 271 kcal | 53.7 g | 5.7 g | 1.3 g | 6.5 g |
| Beef Sticks (all three flavours) | 170 g beef | 294 kcal | 30 g | 8.5 g | 18.5 g | 5.1 g |
| Pork Sticks (all three flavours) | 160 g pork | 219 kcal | 18.6 g | 15.1 g | 1.4 g | 2.9 g |
| Chicken Sticks Original | 179 g chicken | 242 kcal | 28.1 g | 3.8 g | 19.8 g | 4.5 g |
The three beef-stick flavours share one nutrition table, and so do the three pork-stick flavours.
Protein: in these products, protein supplies 34–79% of the energy, well above the 20% that EU rules require before a food can be called "high protein". A single 35 g pouch contains 18.8 g of protein in Pork Jerky Original, 14.6 g in Beef Jerky Original and 9.8 g in Chicken Sticks.
Sugar: this is where the products differ most. Pork Jerky Original has just 1.3 g of sugars per 100 g and the pork sticks 1.4 g, while Beef Jerky Original has 11.7 g, the beef sticks 18.5 g and Chicken Sticks 19.8 g. In Barbeque, Jalapeño and Teriyaki beef jerky, sugar is the second ingredient after beef, at 26.4–29.1 g per 100 g.
Salt and fat: salt runs from 2.9 g per 100 g in the pork sticks to 7.5 g in Teriyaki, or 1.0–2.6 g in a 35 g pouch, against an adult reference intake of 6 g a day. Fat runs from 3.1 g per 100 g in Teriyaki to 15.1 g in the pork sticks.
If you have a food allergy, read the full ingredient list first: celery is an ingredient in every product except Beef Jerky Original, the Cheese & Chives beef sticks contain milk and mustard, the Paprika and Sour Cream & Onion pork sticks contain milk, Teriyaki contains soy and wheat, and every pouch carries a "may contain" warning for further allergens. The Thai Sweet Chilli beef sticks also contain the sweetener aspartame (a source of phenylalanine). Each product page lists the ingredients, allergens and nutrition table, and the label on the pouch is always the final word.
As with any savoury snack, jerky and meat sticks are best enjoyed in sensible portions as part of a varied, balanced diet. The 8 × 35 g pack format makes portioning easy: one 35 g pouch is a tidy, self-contained snack rather than an open bag that is hard to put down, and it suits the label's advice to finish an opened pouch within 72 hours.
The bottom line
There is no single "best" jerky — only the one that suits you. Beef brings the boldest flavour, pork a milder richness and chicken the gentlest taste; jerky gives you a firm, lasting chew, while meat sticks offer something softer and easier to eat. Whichever you choose, every NAKOTNE snack we sell comes from the same IFS Food certified producer in Nākotne, Latvia, and is made from EU-origin meat. If you are still deciding, the honest advice is to try a couple and let your own taste settle it. Still have a question about ingredients, allergens or shipping? Our FAQ has you covered.
