I’d Like to Induct Olympia Provisions’ Pepperettes Into the Salty Meat Snack Hall of Fame

Rachel Karten

This is Highly Recommend, a column dedicated to our very opinionated editors’ favorite things to eat, drink, and buy.

If there’s one thing you should know about my personal brand when it comes to snacking, it’s this: I love salty meat products. In college, I would scour best beef jerky dot org (a real and amazing website) in search of the best regional jerky from places like Florida and Arizona. These days, if you’re looking for me at a party, you’ll probably find me near the charcuterie board, eating all the salami. My devotion runs deep. Which is why I am pleased to report that I have a new inductee to my Salty Meat Snack Hall of Fame: Olympia Provisions’ Pepperettes.

They’re like Slim Jims—you know, that mystery meat stick you always spot near the cash register at the gas station—but the ingredient list doesn’t read like a scary science experiment. Instead, these pepperettes are made of just pork, pork fat, sodium nitrite (a necessary and common preservative in cured meats), potassium sorbate (another natural preservative), dextrose (a.k.a. sugar, which helps with fermenting sausages), lamb casing (this gives the pepperettes their signature snap), and spices—depending on the flavor you get.

There’s the sophisticated Petite Pierre, which has juniper, white pepper, and red wine. Kleine Schweine gets its kick from caraway, coriander, and chile flakes. The most aggressive of the bunch, Flaco Paco, packs heat with paprika, oregano, and garlic. You see those real ingredients, Mr. Jim? Plus, the pepperettes don’t require any refrigeration, making them ideal for road trips or to keep in your purse for Hanger Prevention.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to presenting my Very Official salty meat snack trophy—it’s shaped like a sausage, thanks for asking—to Olympia Provisions’ Pepperettes.

Buy it: Olympia Provisions Pepperette Sample Pack, $32

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Originally Appeared on Bon Appétit