Do you bite or rip into a Slim Jim? I don’t remember what their slogan was (and maybe still is). I feel like it was bite, but frankly rip is a much better description of how one takes a piece off. It also describes how you open up the package, which was a bit of a challenge for me. I also just learned that when you write about Slim Jim's in a technical way, you sound kind of snobbish. I think it’s safe to say that a Slim Jim is not a classy snack, but I say that with all the respect in the world. There’s something very primal and satisfying about this stick of salted meat that makes me very happy.

I’ve had pepperoni sticks before, but I feel like the Slim Jim is probably the most popular, and also the best example of a meat snack. If you’re looking to make your inner carnivore happy while shopping at your local 7-11, the Slim Jim is perfect. Each bite is ever changing with each chew. It’s actually a fairly sophisticated treat, but still not pretentious. You’re first delivered a soft and juicy squishing sensation. It’s very satisfying right off the bat. Once your teeth have bit down you have a bit of a challenge ripping your first bite off of the stick.

After a few meaty chews the salty beef flavour starts to get just a little bit spicy. It’s not so spicy that your uncomfortable, but just a bit of heat. The heat is actually really well balanced as it seems to only go so high and eventually plateaus.

The only part of this meat stick that I didn’t really like is the strange sour aftertaste. At first it just seems like a slightly tart flavour, but by the end of your first bite you basically have a little residual heat and a really sour flavour. I’m not sure if this sour flavour is on purpose, or just a by product of making meat last for months on a store shelf. If it is a choice, I’d be interested in having a Slim Jim with the sour dialed down just a bit. It doesn’t have to be eliminated, it just shouldn’t be so extreme.