What is Biltong?
Biltong is air-dried, spiced beef: a South African tradition born centuries ago, when farmers and travellers needed meat that would keep on long journeys. Ours is made in Portugal from lean Portuguese beef, cured in apple cider vinegar with Worcester sauce, sea salt, black pepper and toasted coriander, then air-dried for around five days. Because drying removes the water, the protein concentrates: over 60g of protein per 100g, around 250 kcal, under 1g of sugar and no artificial preservatives. It is not cooked, not smoked and not sweetened, which is exactly what sets it apart from jerky.
Real food. Serious protein. Proper flavour.
More and more of us want real food and more protein in our day, without reading a label that looks like a chemistry exam. Biltong does both, and it tastes genuinely good.
A mix of flavours
Our Lean Original is deep and beefy with toasted coriander and black pepper. Garlic is rounder and mellow. Piri Piri brings a slow-building Portuguese heat. Same honest beef, three very different moods.
Fits any part of the day
No cooking, no washing up and easy to carry. It goes from kit bag to lunchbox to a sharing board on a Friday night, and it is ready the moment you open it.
Real food, real protein
Six ingredients you can pronounce and over 60g of protein per 100g. No added sugar and no artificial preservatives: just beef, a vinegar cure, spice and time.
Active people
Training most days and chasing a protein target? Biltong gets you there with very little sugar along for the ride.
Sport & teams
Match days, away trips and recovery. Rugby clubs across Portugal already keep it in the kit bag.
Growing families
Something better than biscuits for the lunchbox and the 4pm hunger, made from a short list of ingredients you know.
How to look after your Biltong
Biltong is cured, not indestructible. Once the bag is open it always needs to live in the fridge. Here is how to keep it at its best.
- 1Remove it from the vacuum bagDo this as soon as it arrives.
- 2Keep it in a tray in the fridgeKeep the greaseproof paper if you like.
- 3Keep it sealedA tray with a lid or a sealed container works well.
- 4Move it around dailyKeeps it as fresh as possible and stops the pieces sticking together.
- 5Order more when you have finishedIt never lasts as long as you think. Reorder here.
One bag, many moments
Find your favourite
Lean Original
Our signature. Beef, coriander, black pepper, nothing to hide behind.
Shop Original
Garlic
Mellow, rounded and properly moreish. A family favourite.
Shop Garlic
Piri Piri
A slow, warming Portuguese heat that builds as you go.
Shop Piri PiriFancy something different? Try our Droëwors (dried beef sausage), our Spicy Beef Chilli Sticks, or a bit of everything in the Taster Pack.
How Biltong stacks up
Biltong is lean beef, cured in vinegar and spices and air-dried over several days. Drying removes the water, so the protein concentrates: a very high protein load per gram, with very little sugar and no artificial preservatives. Here is how it compares with the protein sources most of us already rely on.
Protein per 100g
Comparison per 100g
| Food | Protein | Energy | Fat | Sugars | Protein per 100 kcal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Biltong (air-dried beef) | 60g | ~250 kcal | ~3g | <1g | 24g |
| Chicken breast, cooked (skinless) | 31g | 165 kcal | 3.6g | 0g | 19g |
| Tuna, canned in water (drained) | 26g | 116 kcal | ~1g | 0g | 22g |
| Protein bar (typical commercial) | 30g | ~375 kcal | 13g | ~22g | 8g |
Key micronutrients per 100g
| Per 100g | Biltong | Chicken | Tuna | Protein bar | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iron | ~5mg | ~1mg | ~1.3mg | varies* | Haem iron, which the body absorbs easily. Supports oxygen transport and endurance. Biltong gives around 35% of the daily reference intake. |
| Zinc | ~7mg | ~1mg | ~0.7mg | varies* | Immune function, tissue repair and protein synthesis. Around 70% of the daily reference intake. |
| Vitamin B12 | ~2µg | ~0.3µg | ~2.5µg | varies* | Red blood cell formation and energy metabolism. Around 80% of the daily reference intake. |
| Potassium | ~500mg | ~256mg | ~200mg | varies* | Electrolyte for fluid balance and muscle contraction, working alongside sodium. |
| Sodium (salt) | ~1500mg | ~70mg | ~300mg | ~350mg | An electrolyte lost in sweat. Biltong is high in salt, so enjoy it in sensible portions alongside good hydration. |
A note on salt. Salt is part of how Biltong is cured, so it is naturally salty. A sensible portion is 25g to 50g, and it is worth drinking plenty of water with it, especially around training.
Higher protein density
At around 24g of protein per 100 kcal, Biltong helps you hit protein goals without carrying a lot of extra energy. Useful for managing body composition.
Negligible sugar
Under 1g per 100g, against the 20g or more common in protein bars. A whole-food base of beef, vinegar, salt and spice.
Portable, no cooking, no mess
Unlike chicken or tuna, Biltong is dry and easy to carry. It fits in a kit bag or lunchbox and it is ready to eat.
Where it fits in a training week
Building
Fuel before training or a match, and a steady protein top-up between meals.
Energy
An easy-to-carry option for match day.
Recovery
Easy protein after training, or in the evening to keep cravings in check.
On the road
Portable, reliable protein for the journey to and from games.
Indicative values per 100g, based on standard food composition data and typical labels. Actual values vary by cut, brand and recipe. Biltong values refer to Raw Sintra lean air-dried beef. *Protein bars vary widely and are often fortified. Raw Sintra Biltong contains fish and gluten (from the Worcester sauce); see each product page for full allergen information.
Your Biltong questions, answered
What is Biltong made of?
Biltong is sliced beef that has been cured in vinegar and spices, then air-dried. Raw Sintra Biltong uses six ingredients: Portuguese beef, apple cider vinegar, Worcester sauce, sea salt, black pepper and toasted coriander seeds.
Is Biltong the same as beef jerky?
No. Jerky is usually cooked or smoked and is often sweetened with sugar or marinades. Biltong is cured in vinegar and spices and air-dried slowly, with no cooking. The result is more tender, more savoury, and much lower in sugar.
How much protein is in Biltong?
Raw Sintra Biltong contains over 60g of protein per 100g, so a 50g portion gives you around 30g of protein. That is roughly double the protein of the same weight of cooked chicken breast.
Is Biltong healthy?
Biltong is a high-protein, whole-food option with under 1g of sugar per 100g and no artificial preservatives. It is also rich in iron, zinc and vitamin B12. It is naturally salty, so enjoy it in sensible portions as part of a balanced diet with plenty of water.
Is Biltong raw?
Biltong is not cooked with heat. Instead, the beef is cured in vinegar and salt and then air-dried for around five days. The cure and the drying are what preserve it, which is how Biltong has been made for centuries.
Does Biltong need to be refrigerated?
Yes. After delivery, take it out of the vacuum bag: our cut Biltong is not designed for a long life in the packaging, as we don't want to add chemical preservatives. Keep it sealed in a tray in the fridge, and move it around each day so it stays fresh and the pieces do not stick together. See how to look after your Biltong.
How long does Biltong last?
Biltong is cured, not indestructible. Once it has been delivered and taken out of its vacuum seal, kept in the fridge it should last up to 5 days. Move it around each day to keep it fresh and stop the pieces sticking together, and if you ever spot mould or notice an off smell, throw it away.
Can I get Biltong on a subscription?
Yes. Choose Subscribe and save on our Lean, Garlic or Piri Piri Biltong or our Droëwors, and we will deliver every 2, 3 or 4 weeks with 10% off every order. You can skip a delivery, pause or cancel any time from your account. Because Biltong is best eaten within 5 days of opening, pick the size and frequency you will actually get through. Shop Biltong.
Is Biltong low carb or keto friendly?
Yes. Raw Sintra Biltong has around 3g of carbohydrate per 100g, with under 1g of that from sugar, which makes it a natural fit for low-carb and keto eating.
Is Biltong gluten free?
Our standard sliced Biltong is not. It is made with Worcester sauce, which contains gluten (barley) and fish (anchovies), so it is not suitable for people with coeliac disease or a fish allergy. We do make a gluten-free version to order: just email hello@rawsintra.com.
Taste the difference
Not sure where to start? The Taster Pack has a bit of everything: Biltong, Droëwors and Chilli Sticks.
