By Donwynne and Amy Bergh
Our biltong has 53.7g of protein per 100g, which is about 18.8g in a 35g pack. Our beef sticks have 38.3g of protein per 100g, about 15.3g in a 40g pack. Those are the figures printed on our packs, and they're the same across all four biltong flavours.
Why is biltong so high in protein?
Because most of the water has been dried out of the beef. What you're left with is a small, concentrated pack of meat. It takes 230g of raw beef to make 100g of our biltong, and 220g to make 100g of our beef sticks, so a lot of protein ends up in a snack you can fit in a pocket.
That's also why the numbers look so different from a fresh piece of beef. You're not comparing like for like by weight: the water has gone, the protein has stayed.
How much protein is in a pack?
| Typical values | Biltong per 100g | Biltong per 35g pack | Beef sticks per 100g | Beef sticks per 40g pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Energy | 310kcal | 109kcal | 483kcal | 193kcal |
| Protein | 53.7g | 18.8g | 38.3g | 15.3g |
| Fat | 9.7g | 3.4g | 35.3g | 14.1g |
| Carbohydrate | 1.7g | 0.6g | 2.8g | 1.1g |
| Salt | 2.7g | 0.9g | 2.4g | 1.0g |
Per-pack figures are worked out from the per-100g values on our packs. Nutrition is the same across Original, Garlic & Black Pepper, Chilli and Cape Curry. The full table, including saturates and sugars, is in Is biltong healthy? and on What's in our biltong.
Is biltong a good source of protein?
Yes. More than half of our biltong, by weight, is protein, and a single 35g pack gives you 18.8g of it for 109kcal. That's why people reach for it after a walk, at the desk or between meals, when they want something savoury rather than a bar or a shake. If you're packing for a hike or a run, see High-protein snacks for walkers and runners.
It is still a cured, salted red meat, so it works best as a snack in sensible amounts. A pack is a sensible portion for most people. If you want the fuller picture on salt, fat and processed meat, that's in the healthy post above.
Do beef sticks have as much protein as biltong?
Not quite, and they are a richer snack. Our Original Beef Sticks have 38.3g of protein per 100g, so a 40g pack has about 15.3g of protein and 193kcal. They use the same ingredients as our Original biltong, but they're made in the style of droëwors, a thin dried sausage, so they carry more fat. There's a fuller explanation in Biltong, droewors and beef sticks. If you want the leaner, higher-protein option, choose the biltong.
Does the flavour change the protein?
No. The nutrition is the same on all four of our biltong flavours. You're choosing for taste, not for a different protein figure.
- Original Biltong: coriander, black pepper and sea salt.
- Garlic & Black Pepper Biltong: a proper hit of garlic with a warm pepper finish.
- Chilli Biltong: a warming chilli kick.
- Cape Curry: fragrant curry spice with gentle chilli warmth. Contains mustard and celery.
Is biltong useful for a high-protein or low-carb diet?
It fits easily. A 35g pack has 18.8g of protein and 0.6g of carbohydrate. As with any food, it's your diet as a whole that counts, not one snack. There's a fuller note on keto, calories and salt in Biltong for weight loss and keto.
Does the beef matter?
It does to us. All our beef comes from Farm Wilder farms across South West England, where the cattle are 100% pasture-fed. Farm Wilder audits the farms every two years against standards developed with FWAG South West. Read more on Our Beef.
Want to try it?
Start with Original Biltong (6-pack £24.99, 12-pack £44.99), or try everything with The Whole Herd mixed 6-pack for £24.99. If it becomes a habit, Subscribe & Save on the 12-packs takes 15% off your first box, then 10% off every box after, delivered monthly, every 2 weeks or every 2 months. You can pause, skip or cancel anytime. Delivery is free from £65.