- I bought yak jerky from Star Yak Ranch while at the Jeffree Star store's grand opening.
- The controversial star is known for cosmetics, so I was curious how his ventures into meat would go.
Jeffree Star has made a name for himself in the cosmetics industry — and now, he's ventured into meats.
Earlier this month, the controversial YouTuber and cosmetics-brand founder opened the Jeffree Star store in Casper, Wyoming. The store sells beauty products from his eponymous brand, Jeffree Star Cosmetics, as well as yak meat from his most recent venture, Star Yak Ranch.
Star started Star Yak Ranch in 2021 after he left Los Angeles. His Wyoming move came after a string of controversies that emerged in 2020 and an Insider investigation that uncovered accusations of sexual assault and violence against Star.
After attending the store's grand opening in person, I can understand why people might be confused by the unique makeup-and-meat store concept. Either way, I knew I wanted to try Star's yak jerky.
I bought a bag of yak jerky from Star Yak Ranch inside the Jeffree Star store
At the Jeffree Star store, Star Yak Ranch products are sold separately from Star's cosmetics. They have their own themed space and displays.
This could be because the store is technically a combination of two separate business ventures. (In response to previous criticism for selling vegan makeup and meat in the same store, Star said his cosmetics brand "has nothing to do with my yak ranch.")
The jerky comes in a range of flavors — original, jalapeño, peppered, honey, and teriyaki — and I opted for a 0.28-pound bag of plain yak jerky for $15. I know meat is expensive these days, but $15 still seemed pretty pricey for such a small amount of meat.
Those who can't make it to the store can also order 3-ounce bags of jerky online for $12, though they are currently sold out in every flavor.
Star's yak jerky was tender, chewy, and addicting
As a native Texan, I'm no stranger to jerky, but I've never had yak jerky. When I opened the package, the smell of dried meat immediately flooded my senses.
To my surprise, it tasted very similar to other high-quality jerky I've tried in the past. The seasonings and flavor profile will likely be familiar to those who like beef jerky but I think you can definitely taste the difference in meat quality and texture.
In terms of flavor, I thought it tasted most similar to biltong, a type of dried, cured meat that originated in South Africa. The meat was tender yet flavorful, and it didn't taste too gamey or tough.
My bag had a mixture of thin- and thick-cut pieces, which contributed to a great textural experience.
The thin pieces were more crunchy and packed with flavor and the thicker pieces were more chewy. I felt like I could really taste the yak meat more in the thicker pieces of jerky.
Before I knew it, I got to the bottom of the bag and instantly regretted not buying more from the store
I didn't know if I would like yak meat, so I only bought one bag of jerky to take home with me.
Although there's an element of novelty to buying yak jerky from a makeup store, I think the flavor of the yak jerky stands on its own. For that reason, I would definitely buy it again and I plan to stock up if I ever return to the Jeffree Star store.