Tanka is a neat brand that should definitely be explored by anyone who loves jerky, buffalo meat, and has concerns about the additives in, and quality of, their food.
Tanka offers an assortment of buffalo bars, sticks and jerky, all labeled as gluten-free, nitrate-free, hormone-free, and antibiotic-free, and made with Native American grass-fed buffalo. And yes, from what we noted on our last check, all seem to be dairy-free, too!
Tasting Notes for Tanka Buffalo Snacks
We sampled just a small handful of their offerings to get a taste for the general selection.
Slow Smoked Original Tanka Bar
Their traditional flavor was my introduction to this interesting combination of buffalo meat and cranberries. It looks like jerky, but is a tender meat bar dotted with lightly sweetened cranberries. The overall bar has a nice balance of sweet, savory and smoky. I really love that the whole thing is just 70 calories! It’s about the size of an ordinary snack or energy bar, but with 1/3 to 1/2 the calories and no funny business.
Apple Orange Peel Tanka Stick
Delicious! I loved the lean but tender texture. As well as the surprisingly sweet, spicy, and smoky flavors all rolled up into one. I think they could omit the touch of sugar cane (still only 3 grams of sugar per stick), as it was unnecessarily a little sweeter than the Original Bar. The sticks are a good alternative for a meaty snack that is still somewhat soft and forgiving.
Warrior Bar
The Warrior Bar was a joint creation between Tanka and Onnit, but it still had that strong Tanka vibe. Each bite of this generously sized snack (see below) was a little sweet, a little spicy (thanks to the pepper blend), and very meaty. Interestingly enough, the dried cranberries are very fresh tasting, nearly squirting out juices with every bite!
The Facts on Tanka Buffalo Bars and Sticks
Price: $2.50 to $4.95 per 1- to 2-ounce meat snack
Availability: It’s easiest to find Tanka products online. You can order from from Amazon.
Certifications: Tanka Buffalo Bars and Sticks are Certified Gluten Free.
Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Tanka Buffalo Bars and Sticks are dairy-free / non-dairy, egg-free, gluten-free, grain-free, nut-free, peanut-free, soy-free, and close to paleo.*
For More Product Information: Visit the Tanka website at www.tankabar.com.
*Always read the ingredient and nutrition statement prior to consumption. Ingredients, processes, and labeling are subject to change at any time for any company or product. Contact the company to discuss their manufacturing processes if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. No food product can be guaranteed “safe” for every individual’s needs. You should never rely on ingredient and allergen statements alone if dealing with a severe food allergy.