Kinmen Beef Jerky is a traditional dried-beef snack made by marinating sliced or strip-cut beef and slow-drying it at low temperature; “Gaokeng Beef Jerky” from Gaokeng in Jinsha is its best-known brand, now sold through Costco Taiwan. At the souvenir counter in Kinmen Airport, beef jerky stands alongside gongtang and kaoliang as one of the big three, with Gaokeng, Liangjin, and I-Mei brands stacked in neat rows, each with its own camp of loyal followers divided by softness, saltiness, and seasoning.
“Gaokeng Beef Jerky” is made by Gaokeng Co., Ltd., a Kinmen-based company headquartered in Gaokeng, Jinsha, and is sold through Costco Taiwan in original and kaoliang-liquor-flavored varieties. Worth noting: the ingredient label on the Costco version lists the beef as sourced from Australia and New Zealand rather than exclusively from local lees-fed Kinmen cattle — worth checking the package's origin label before buying.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Kinmen beef jerky brand is sold at Costco?
Gaokeng Beef Jerky is sold through Costco Taiwan, in original and kaoliang-liquor-flavored varieties.
Is the Costco version made from local Kinmen beef?
According to the ingredient label, the beef in the Costco version is sourced from Australia and New Zealand rather than exclusively from local lees-fed Kinmen cattle — worth checking the package before buying.
Where is Gaokeng Beef Jerky manufactured?
It is made by Gaokeng Co., Ltd., headquartered in Gaokeng, Jinsha Township, Kinmen.
What are the “big three” souvenirs at Kinmen Airport?
Gongtang, kaoliang liquor, and beef jerky are widely regarded as the big three at the Kinmen Airport souvenir counter, with brands like Gaokeng, Liangjin, and I-Mei all available.
Sources
- 高坑 原味牛肉乾 300公克 X 2入 | Costco 好市多 — 高坑牛肉乾好市多販售頁面,製造商金沙鎮高坑、成分標示牛肉來源紐澳