Biltong Carbs: How Many Carbs Are in Biltong?

Biltong carbs are low: beef has almost no carbohydrate, and the traditional cure of vinegar, salt, coriander and pepper adds no sugar. Any carbs on a biltong label come from what a brand adds, usually sugar, a sauce or a flavor coating. The exact number is on the nutrition panel of each bag.

• Where biltong carbs come from
• How to read biltong carbs on the label
• Biltong carbs vs jerky and meat sticks
• Our bag
• Questions people ask

Where biltong carbs come from

Start with the meat. Fresh beef muscle has close to no carbohydrate, and drying it concentrates protein and fat, not carbs. So the carbohydrate in a bag of biltong comes from the cure and anything added afterwards:

• Sugar in the recipe. Some commercial and flavored biltong adds brown sugar or honey.
• Sauces. Worcestershire and soy sauce can bring a small amount of sugar.
• Coatings. Barbecue, sweet chilli and teriyaki flavors are sweetened.
• Spices. Coriander and pepper contribute a trace at the amounts used.

Biltong seasoning explains why sugar has no job in the traditional cure.

How to read biltong carbs on the label

1. Find total carbohydrate per serving, then the added sugars line under it.
2. Check the serving size. One ounce is common, and a bag holds several.
3. Read the ingredients for sugar, dextrose, honey, molasses and maltodextrin.
4. Remember rounding: US panels can print 0 g for amounts under 0.5 g per serving.

Biltong carbs vs jerky and meat sticks

The difference is the process. Jerky is soaked in a marinade that usually contains sugar, then cooked. Meat sticks are ground, mixed and often include dextrose for fermentation or flavor. Biltong is cured dry and hung in air, so there is no step where sugar is needed. That is the general pattern. Individual brands break it in both directions, which is why we keep telling you to read the bag. See keto beef jerky, zero sugar beef jerky and beef stick calories.

Our bag

The Classic lists beef, salt, pepper, coriander, Worcestershire sauce and white vinegar. The carbohydrate and sugar figures for it are on the nutrition panel printed on the bag, and that panel is the number to trust over any blog, including this one.

Biltong carbs: questions people ask

How many carbs are in biltong?
Traditional biltong is very low in carbohydrate, because beef contains almost none and the classic cure adds no sugar. The exact figure varies by brand and is printed on the nutrition panel.

Does biltong have sugar?
Traditional biltong is made without sugar. Some brands and flavored varieties add sugar or sweetened sauces, so check the ingredient list.

Is biltong low carb?
Biltong made the traditional way is a low-carb food. Sweetened flavors can carry more, so compare total carbohydrate per serving between bags.

See The Classic · Is biltong keto? · Is biltong healthy?