At the souvenir counter in Kinmen Airport, beef jerky stands alongside gongtang and kaoliang as one of the big three. Gaokeng, Liangjin, and I-Mei brand beef jerky are stacked in neat rows, each with its own camp of loyal followers divided by softness, saltiness, and seasoning. The star of all these products is the Kinmen yellow cattle — raised on kaoliang lees, slow-dried to a chewy, savory finish with a faint grain aftertaste sweet enough to draw Costco into stocking Gaokeng's lees-fed beef jerky.
What is Kinmen Beef Jerky
Kinmen beef jerky uses local Kinmen yellow cattle as its raw material; the animals' lees-based diet gives the meat a faint grain fragrance. The process involves slicing the beef into thin cuts or strips, marinating with soy sauce, sugar, and five-spice, then slowly dehydrating in a low-temperature oven. The texture sits between the soft-chewy style of Taichung beef jerky and the firmer style of Tainan, with clear muscle fibers, a medium chew, and a pleasant grain-tinged sweetness. Both savory-leaning and sweet-leaning versions have their devotees.
Why does it represent Kinmen? The defining factor for Kinmen beef jerky is the raw material, not the method — locally farmed, lees-raised yellow cattle are scarce, and their unusual flavor cannot be replicated on the main island. Gaokeng's jerky grew out of the beef restaurant founded in 1973, and its lees-fed beef jerky has earned a place on Costco's buying list, extending the brand's reach off the island. Liangjin Farm carries dual food-safety certifications, balancing fresh-pour beef noodle soup with vacuum-packed beef jerky. Together with gongtang and kaoliang, beef jerky forms Kinmen's souvenir iron triangle.
How to eat it the local way
Local knowledge
Verified facts (sponsored content filtered)
- Gaokeng's lees-fed beef jerky has been listed on Costco's purchasing roster — a key marker of the brand's reach beyond Kinmen.
- Liangjin Farm holds dual food-safety certifications, balancing fresh-pour beef noodle soup with vacuum-packed beef jerky — a transparent brand operation.
- Kinmen beef jerky, gongtang, and kaoliang are Kinmen's three permanent souvenir pillars — the offshore island's souvenir big three.
Visitor tips
- Kinmen Airport and souvenir shops in Jincheng carry all major brands for easy side-by-side comparison.
- Sweetness levels vary significantly between brands; try before committing to a large pack.
- Vacuum packaging is more hygienic for gifting; small resealable bags are convenient for personal use and sharing.
Data compiled from the Kinmen County Tourism Bureau, Kinmen Winery, and a large volume of public reviews, with sponsored content filtered out. Photos will be replaced with channel-exclusive footage after Dio's on-site shoot.