A Quick History of Jerky

Jerky is a very commonplace snack for a lot of West Virginians as well as people all over the globe. We use it for camping, hiking, quick snacks, emergency preparedness kits. We know there’s sweet and savory flavors, tons of different brands and different price points. Do you know though how jerky came to be? Where it came from? How much do you really know about jerky?

Jerky has a history tracing all the way back to ancient Egypt. The term itself comes from a South American native tribe, Quechua. They were part of the Inca Empire dating back to 1550! They called jerky “ch’arki.” Spanish Conquistadors saw the techniques that the Quechua used and began calling it Charqui. When the Conquistadors invaded the Americas, they found that the natives in North America were also making jerky. These natives adopted the Spanish term, but with their accent the word eventually became what we know now as “jerky.”

Jerky has become a staple for us, just like it was a staple for cowboys and pioneers. It’s high in protein and easy to store and keep readily available. Not only is it convenient, but when considering all the countries that make and serve jerky, there’s a ton of different kinds! This includes, but isn’t limited to: goat, lamb, beef, bison, alligator, salmon, earthworm, camel, emu, horse, turkey, kangaroo, deer, ostrich, springbok, bison, kudu, crocodile, tuna, and pork. That’s a lot of jerky! Lucky for you, Little General has plenty of options for your jerky needs, so be sure to stop by yours and grab some for your next snack.