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So after making the meatless meat plunge into the soy-based Primal Strips, I decided to tackle the seitan-style flavors. Those Primal Spirit people seem to be winning me over. Though I have always snubbed my nose at meat imitations, the soy ones had truly impressed me. The seitan-style strips are wheat gluten based. They aren’t completely soy-free due to the addition of soy sauce, but definitely soy-low. Before opening the packages, I noticed that the strips appeared similar to the soy-based ones, but were much lighter in color. I was very surprised to see that these still packed a good dose of protein (10-11g per serving) with a very low calorie profile (74-99). The calories were particularly surprising as this was a snack that really did seem to satiate. 
To address the similarities, the texture was remarkably similar to the soy-based strips. They were still quite “meaty”, chewy, and tore apart with a shredding ease. I think the seitan may have been a bit less chewy once I got into them, but really it was hard to tell. As for differences, it seemed more about the flavors. Thai Peanut Since I had never come across a Thai peanut flavored jerky, meat or meatless, my curiosity selected this flavor first. I wasn’t disappointed. The peanut flavor was mild, yet delicious and inviting. A warm heat emerged as an aftertaste. It was spicy, but less spicy than I had anticipated, which was nice. This is easily my favorite flavor. My addictions usually arise from a combination of good taste, texture, and uniqueness. The Thai Peanut certainly possessed all three. Mesquite LimeHaving no idea what “mesquite” tastes like, I took a chance and selected this flavor next. I can only assume that the flavor was true to taste, based on the other Primal Strip flavors. Unfortunately, as it turns out, I am not a big fan of mesquite, at least not in combination with lime. The sweet and sour mix with the lime really didn’t appeal to my taste buds. Teriyaki I was surprised to find that the Teriyaki strips had a good dose of spice. They weren’t too sweet, as some teriyaki flavored items can be, yet it was a very nice sweet and spicy blend. I like that the Primal Strips are quite flavorful, yet not overloaded with artificial flavor to try to mask the non-meat backdrop. The Teriyaki was an excellent example of how they work with the seitan rather than trying to hide it. Though I was a huge skeptic, this Primal Spirit company has really created not only a “meaty” vegan product, but also a tasty one! Onto the final version, shiitake mushroom… My Extra Notes & Tips: - All of the ingredients were pleasantly recognizable. It was refreshing to actually see peanuts and basil in the Thai Peanut rather than “natural and artificial flavors.”
- My clumsy self found the primal strips quite difficult to open. They seemed to require scissors, as each time I tried to peel one back (of course while driving) I could barely break into it. That is some seriously strong plastic!
- Unfortunately, this stuff just wasn’t very picture worthy. Tasty, yes … pretty, no. But what jerky is really?
- One warning, unlike most meat jerky, this stuff is messy, worth it, but messy. The natural nature of it makes for a caramelized coating of flavor that does leave your fingers a bit sticky. Keep a napkin on hand or even a wet nap!
Where to Purchase: Primal Strips are sold in stores throughout the U.S. and Canada. Though they do not have a store locator on the Primal Spirit website, I am sure if you contact them they will be happy to help you locate some! If you search the web, it also seems to be available from a few vegan online vendors
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