Yes, biltong fits the carnivore diet well. It is air-dried spiced beef with over 60g of protein per 100g, about 3g of carbs per 100g and no added sugar. It is beef first and foremost, made from six simple ingredients, which makes it one of the easiest bits of proper meat to carry through a carnivore day.
If you are new to the whole idea, it helps to know exactly what you are eating first. Our beginner's guide to biltong explains how it is made and why it is not the same as jerky.
What is biltong, and why does it suit a carnivore diet?
Biltong is beef that has been air-dried for about five days, never cooked. Our base is six ingredients: Portuguese beef, apple cider vinegar, Worcester sauce, sea salt, black pepper and toasted coriander seeds. That is it. There is no added sugar, no artificial preservatives and nothing sweetened, which is exactly the sort of clean label carnivore eaters look for.
Because the diet is built around meat, a food that is almost entirely beef makes life simple. You get dense protein and fat from the cut itself, with only a light layer of spice for flavour.
Is biltong truly carnivore-friendly?
Let us be honest about it. Strict carnivore is meat and salt only, and biltong has a few extras: coriander, black pepper, a splash of vinegar and Worcester sauce. For most people following a relaxed or standard carnivore approach, those trace seasonings are a non-issue, and the carbs stay at about 3g per 100g.
If you follow the very strictest version of the diet, you will want to know that those seasonings are there. For the vast majority of carnivore eaters, biltong sits comfortably inside the rules and beats almost anything else you can carry.
How much protein and how many carbs does it have?
Lean biltong gives you over 60g of protein per 100g, with about 3g of carbs and no added sugar. That protein-to-carb ratio is hard to beat in a food you can carry for the day. One pack delivers a serious hit of protein with no cooking needed.
We make three flavours: Lean, Garlic and Piri Piri. All three start from the same six-ingredient base, so the numbers stay clean whichever one you reach for.
How does biltong compare with jerky for carnivore eaters?
Jerky is cooked and, more often than not, sweetened with sugar, honey or syrup. That sugar is the very thing carnivore and low-carb eaters are trying to avoid. Biltong is air-dried and unsweetened, so it keeps the carbs low and the ingredient list short.
If you have been reaching for jerky and wondering why the label lists so much, biltong is the cleaner swap. Beef, salt and a little spice, nothing hiding behind a sweet coating.
How do you use biltong day to day on carnivore?
Take the day's portion for the moments when a full meal is not practical: mid-morning, between meetings, after training or on the road. A handful gives you real protein without breaking the pattern of eating you have set for the day, and without the temptation to reach for something sweet or processed.
It also works as a topper, torn over eggs or eaten alongside a steak when you want to push the protein up. Because it is so easy to carry, you can take a day's portion with you and never be caught short.
Can biltong help you stick to a carnivore diet?
The hardest part of any way of eating is the gap between meals, when hunger and convenience push you off track. Carnivore is no different. Having proper meat within reach makes the difference between staying the course and grabbing whatever is nearest. Biltong is meat you can carry, so it removes the excuse.
It is also satisfying in a way sweet food is not. Because it is dense, chewy and high in protein, a small amount holds you for a good while. That combination of convenience and staying power is exactly what makes a strict diet workable in real life rather than just on paper.
What should you look for when buying biltong for carnivore?
Read the ingredients before anything else. Some brands add sugar, glucose syrup or a long list of additives, all of which work against a carnivore or low-carb approach. You want a short list built around beef, with only salt and a little spice for seasoning. Our base is six ingredients: Portuguese beef, apple cider vinegar, Worcester sauce, sea salt, black pepper and toasted coriander seeds.
Check the carbs per 100g too. Plain biltong should sit around 3g, and anything much higher usually means sugar has crept in. The shorter and cleaner the label, the better it fits the way you are eating, and the less you have to second-guess.
How does biltong fit alongside fresh meat on carnivore?
Fresh steak, mince and eggs will always be the backbone of a carnivore diet, and biltong is not meant to replace them. Think of it as the portable version for the times a plate of hot meat is not an option: travelling, working, training or simply out of the house for the day.
Used that way, it keeps your protein steady without forcing a cooked meal into every gap. You get the freshly cooked meat when you are home and the air-dried beef when you are not, and the two cover the whole day between them.
Does biltong have sugar?
Our biltong has no added sugar. It is six ingredients and nothing else.
Is biltong the same as jerky?
No. Jerky is cooked and usually sweetened. Biltong is air-dried and unsweetened, with a different texture and taste.
How many carbs are in biltong?
Plain biltong has about 3g of carbs per 100g and no added sugar, which keeps it well within most carnivore and low-carb approaches.
Does biltong need to be kept in the fridge?
Yes. After delivery, take it out of the vacuum bag and keep it sealed in a tray in the fridge, where it lasts up to 5 days. Take the day's portion with you in a small sealed container.
Want clean beef protein that fits your carnivore days? Shop our biltong and pick your flavour. Packs are 17.50 EUR, and there is a monthly subscription so you never run out. It is made by hand in Portugal and ships within Portugal.
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