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Key things to know
Beef jerky is a brilliant hiking snack on its own, but pairing it with carbohydrates, fresh fruit, nuts and seeds gives you the full spread of energy your body needs on the trail. This post explains how to build a balanced hiking food kit around jerky as the protein anchor, covering carb timing, hydration snacks and practical packing tips. The key takeaway: start with the protein, build the rest of your snack kit around it.
Ho ho ho – the countdown to Christmas has
begun!
Christmas is a wonderful time of family
celebrations and holiday fun, but there’s also a side to the festive season
which many of us dread – gift shopping.
Chaotic car parks, crowded shops, time pressures and a bewildering array
of choices can lead to frayed tempers, over-spending and plenty of presents
bought in haste and frustration which will miss the mark.
Don’t let this be you. Why not give food gifts this Christmas and
avoid the hassle, waste and disappointment of giving someone a present which
they’ll never wear and never use?
Food gifts are foolproof. Everyone loves a tasty treat and there’s
something to suit every palate and type.
From stocking fillers to sumptuous food hampers, luxury condiments and
favourite snacks to the latest kitchen gadgets, cooking kits and books, there’s
a Christmas gift for every food connoisseur.
Foodie items make great Christmas gifts and
we’ve picked a few winners:
Everyone enjoys the savoury deliciousness
of biltong and beef jerky. These beloved
traditional South African snacks are firm favourites in Australia too and would
be a welcome addition to any festive table or celebration.
DJays Gourmet offers a wide
choice of biltong
and beef jerky gift baskets to suit every taste and budget – plus they ship
countrywide, so you’re sure to find the perfect gift with the added convenience
of door-to-door delivery! Choose from a
variety of hampers containing different combinations of delicious biltong, beef
jerky and droewors (dried sausage) plus spice rubs and sauces, trucker’s caps
and bottle openers. Simply order online
and your food gift will be on its way to the lucky (and happy!) recipient.
If you’re buying a Christmas gift for a
serious foodie, an item of cookware from le Creuset will hit the sweet
spot. Anything from this highly
desirable (and hard-wearing) brand is guaranteed to please and will likely
become a treasured family heirloom.
Yes, the internet is awash with recipes and
social media posts provide continuous culinary entertainment, but nothing beats
a beautifully crafted cookbook. Whether the book becomes a well-thumbed
source of inspiration or serves as a beautiful display item, it’s bound to be a
welcome gift.
Luxurious truffle infused olive oil or exotic
black salt anyone? Artisan crafted gourmet
condiments like sauces, spreads, dressings and relishes make fabulous food
gifts because they’re out of the ordinary, but oh-so desired. They also won’t spoil, so you can beat the
Christmas rush, buy your items in advance and put together a hamper of goodies well
ahead of time.
If the person you’re buying a Christmas
gift for loves food, they’re probably pretty well acquainted with liquid
refreshments too. A great idea would be
something which would add pizzazz to their bar cart like a wine and chocolate
hamper, cocktail set, juicer, novelty bottle opener, whisky stones or ice
bucket – and you could always add some biltong
and beef
jerky to your gift too. After all,
every bar worth their salt has tasty snacks on offer, right?
Our wish is for you to have a peaceful,
hassle-free run up to Christmas so that you don’t start the festive season
feeling frazzled from frenetic gift shopping.
Take our word for it. Food gifts make the best Christmas gifts and
we encourage you to check out our DJays Gourmet website and order biltong and beef jerky
hampers online. Remember, we’ve got
plenty of different gift baskets to choose from, plus we arrange quick and
convenient door-to-door delivery right around Australia, so you can spread the
Christmas cheer far and wide.
Beef jerky is one of the most practical hiking snacks going: it’s lightweight, requires no refrigeration, and delivers protein for sustained energy. Pair it with some nuts, dried fruit and crackers to cover your carbohydrate and fat needs across a long day on the trail.
General guidance for moderate hiking is to aim for around 2,500–3,500 calories per day depending on intensity, terrain and your body size. Sports nutrition guidelines suggest consuming 30–60g of carbohydrates per hour of activity, which is why pairing high-protein jerky with some quick-release carbs, like dried fruit or crackers, makes sense.
Beef jerky provides protein and a range of minerals including iron, zinc and B vitamins, which may help support sustained energy during physical activity. For immediate energy on the trail, pair it with a carbohydrate source like dried fruit, which provides faster-release fuel.
Beef jerky and biltong are among the most popular choices because they’re dense in protein, lightweight, shelf-stable and easy to eat on the move. Other solid options include nuts, seeds and hard cheese (for shorter trips). A jerky sampler pack lets you try a few flavours before committing to a big batch for a long hike.
Absolutely. Biltong is just as portable as jerky and also requires no refrigeration. It has a slightly different texture, softer and less chewy, so if you prefer that, moist biltong or medium dry biltong are great trail companions. Some hikers carry both for variety.
Arron Zamel has been General Manager of DJays Gourmet since 2015 and under his expert leadership, the company has cemented its reputation as Australia’s leading supplier of packaged jerky and biltong.
His strong family connection to South Africa, his marketing and management degree from Monash University, his technical expertise plus his experience as a successful entrepreneur and import/export business owner made him the ideal candidate for the challenging position.
Additionally, Arron’s innovative approach to management, his proven brand-building credentials, his strong customer focus and youthful energy have ensured that DJays Gourmet’s high-quality biltong and jerky have become Australia's dried meat treats of choice.
He understands traditional South African flavours and the precision techniques required to create truly authentic biltong, jerky and droewors (dried sausage). Part of his job is overseeing operations at DJays' purpose-built facility in Perth, WA where tons of Australian beef goes into making premium dried meat products each month for distribution to retail and wholesale customers across Australia.
For more insights into Arron’s world, visit the DJays Gourmet website, check out their Facebook page or follow them on Instagram @djaysgourmet.