Squid Jerky Is Hugely Popular in Asia—Why Not Here?
Walk through any street market in Thailand and you’ll spot them: old men in wide-brimmed hats pushing carts stacked with dried squid like vinyl records. Choose your squid, and they’ll grill it gently over coals, then run it between rollers until it’s tender and chewy—before handing it over with a bag of tangy green chili seafood sauce (น้ำจิ้มซีฟู้ด). It’s smoky, salty, chewy, and deeply nostalgic for anyone who grew up with it.
But squid jerky isn’t just a street-side snack. It dominates shelf space across Asia—from family-run 7-Elevens to giant supermarket chains:
So here’s the obvious question:
If squid jerky is such a massive hit across Asia…
Why hasn’t it caught on in the U.S.?
1. Generational squeamishness about seafood
Let’s be honest: for many American palates—especially older generations—seafood has always lived in the “maybe not” zone. If it’s not fried, breaded, or served with cocktail sauce, it’s met with hesitation. Chewy, tentacled snacks? Not exactly mainstream.
But things are changing. Younger eaters are more adventurous, more sustainability-conscious, and open to new textures—especially if the nutrition backs it up.
2. Ingredient backlash
Much of the squid jerky sold across Asia is heavily processed: sweetened with sorbitol or corn syrup, loaded with MSG, and often tinted with coloring agents to make it pop. That’s not a problem for many fans in Asia—but for Americans already wary of unfamiliar seafood, a long list of hard-to-pronounce ingredients can be the final no-thanks.
Additionally, there are a lot of concerns about the sourcing of the Humbolt squid used to make most commercial squid jerkies, with little data existing on the ecological impact of harvesting these large and long-lived squid species. Not to mention, accusations that many boats operating illegally and even employ slave labor practices.
3. No one offered a clean-label version—until now
That’s where we come in.
At The Hermit, we wanted to introduce Americans to the joy of squid jerky—minus the baggage. Our jerky is made from 100% wild-caught American squid (a different smaller species, 4-6 inches long, and fully MSC-certified). We craft it into small batches without added sugar, MSG, or sketchy preservatives. Just real, honest ingredients and big flavor.
It’s keto, paleo, Whole30-compatible, and packed with protein, collagen, and Omega3s. And unlike traditional squid snacks, it’s designed for modern tastes—clean, chewy, and deeply satisfying.
America has a seafood blind spot. We're here to fix it.
Squid jerky deserves a spot in the American pantry. And we think once you try it, you'll agree—it’s time to make up for lost time.
