Farmers Choice is hands down the top meat processor in Kenya, outshining competitors like Kenchic and even the government-run Kenya Meat Commission (KMC). In this post, I’ll give you an overview of their product lineup and dive into the more popular ones.
While Farmers Choice technically offers over 200 items—including pet food and specialty products—let’s be honest, most of us are only familiar with about 10 of them. So, that’s exactly what we’ll focus on in this post.
1. Smokies
Rating: 10/10
Smokies are hands down the most popular item from Farmers Choice and the king of Kenyan street food—you’ll find them everywhere. They pretty much don’t need an introduction. The name says it all: they’re smoked sausages.
What makes smokies so popular is their price—they’re way cheaper than regular sausages, and, dare I say, tastier to some. Personally, I find them incredibly comforting!
Smokies have even inspired street food creations like smokie-pasua and smocha.
Also Read: Kenya’s Newest Food Sensation: Smocha Obsession.
Also Read: 15 Popular Kenyan Street Foods Compilation in Nairobi
Farmers Choice smokies are all-beef and come in packs of 10 or 22 pieces. They’re so good that other brands trying to imitate them don’t even come close. Take Kenchic smokies, for example—let’s just say they were so bad, I couldn’t even finish them!
2. Sausages
Rating: 10/10
No exaggeration, but nothing compares to Farmers Choice sausages. Even those world-famous sausages don’t quite hit the spot like these do—at least, that’s what many Kenyans say, and I have to somewhat agree.
I’ve even tried German sausages, and honestly, they don’t stack up. For Kenyans abroad, these sausages are a taste of home, and they’re always looking for where to find them overseas.
Farmers Choice sausages really shine when it comes to beef and pork, though their chicken and lamb options aren’t quite as impressive. They’ve got both regular and spicy versions to cater to different tastes.
Also Read: What is the Difference Between Sausages and Smokies?
3. Chipolatas
Rating: 7/10
A chipolata is pretty much a smaller version of a dinner sausage. It’s similar to regular sausages, just more petite, but with a unique taste that some people aren’t too fond of or aren’t used to.
They’re leaner than your typical breakfast sausages, with way less fat, making them a cheaper and better value option.
You can find chipolatas in both pork and beef varieties.
4. Bacon
Rating: 8/10
Farmers Choice bacon used to be great until they switched from strips to these round, flat chunks. The taste is still the same, but now they don’t cook as well—they curl up when cooked on one side, which is super annoying. Bacon should always be in strips, in my opinion. I’m curious what led to the change.
Farmers Choice offers streaky, collar, and back bacon, and they even have rindless options. Collar bacon is the most popular and affordable, though streaky bacon is my personal favorite. I love the extra fat, and it’s perfect for burgers. But if streaky is a bit too fatty for you, back bacon is a solid alternative. My other use case for streaky bacon is in making home made spaghetti carbonara as a substitute for pancetta
While bacon is usually pork, Farmers Choice also has beef options available.
5. Brawn
Rating: 6/10
Brawn is made from the head meat of animals like sheep, pigs, and cows, and it’s one of the cheapest things you can get from Farmers Choice. For the price, it actually tastes pretty decent.
It’s usually eaten cold or at room temperature, so no need to cook it—it’s ready to eat. You can throw it into sandwiches or salads.
In my opinion, beef brawn is the best, followed by pork. Chicken? Not so much. If you’re looking for something meaty and affordable, brawn is the way to go.
6. Meatballs
Rating: 6/10
Meatballs are exactly what you’d expect—minced meat mixed with breadcrumbs and spices. Farmers Choice meatballs come pre-made, so all you need to do is cook them. No need to mess around with mince and breadcrumbs, making them super convenient and affordable.
That said, they do have a bit of a funky processed taste, which can be a deal breaker for some. If that bothers you, it’s probably better to just buy fresh mince and breadcrumbs and make your own.
Meatballs go great with spaghetti
Also Read: Review: The 5 Best Spaghetti Brands in Kenya
7. Salami
Rating: 7/10
Salami is a cured meat that’s dried out and sliced into small discs. It tastes really good, and the garlic-infused version is especially delicious. That said, I find Kenchic salami to be much better than Farmers Choice—theirs doesn’t always seem well-cured and tends to tear apart easily.
Salami works great in salads and sandwiches if you’re looking for ways to use it. Traditionally Salami is Italian and was from pork but these days it can be made from virtually any animal
8. Chicken Capon
Rating: 4/10
I’m a big fan of Farmers Choice, but their whole chicken is pretty low quality. If you’re going for chicken, stick with Kenchic. The Farmers Choice chicken is just way too fatty—some parts have more fat than meat. So when you’re paying for a heavier capon, you’re basically just paying for more fat.
This is the one product from Farmers Choice that I wouldn’t recommend to my readers.
9. Burger Patties
Rating: 6/10
Farmers Choice burgers are alright, but they have the same problem as the meatballs—yep, that heavily processed taste. It can actually overshadow the flavor of the burger patties in your meal.
Honestly, you’re better off making your own patties from fresh minced meat. If you’re in the mood to make burgers, you’re probably not in a hurry anyway
10. Beef Mince
Farmers Choice offers two types of mincemeat: frozen and fresh. I’d recommend steering clear of the frozen mince whenever possible. Fresh mince is always the better option, even though the frozen stuff is cheaper—often costing less than half the price. Don’t skimp on quality!
Frozen mince tends to be tougher and less juicy, so you’ll likely end up disappointed with whatever you use it for. In Kenya, we usually use mincemeat for making things like kebabs, meatballs, and burger patties, and the lower fat content in frozen mince just doesn’t cut it.
Also Read: Kenyan Kebab Recipe : Swahili Style
11. Nyamabite
Rating: 10/10
Nyamabite is definitely one of favorite Kenyan snack—I actually prefer it over the well-known smokies. I think Nyamabite is just better in terms of texture and taste; it’s dense and really filling.
It’s mostly beef-based with some fillers and thickeners, but the beef flavor really shines through. This is hands down my favorite meaty snack, and since one can be pretty filling, it’s great value for money!
13. Chicken Bites
Rating: 8/10
Chicken bites are basically the same idea as Nyamabite, but while Nyamabite is a ready-to-eat beef snack, chicken bites are mini sausages made from chicken that are also ready to eat.
They come in a big pack and are in strips, which makes them a bit less convenient for snacking compared to the single bites of Nyamabite.
14. Danish Hotdogs
Rating: 7/10
In Denmark, hotdogs are super popular, and they’ve created their own version. If you’re picking up hotdog sausages from the supermarket, chances are you’ll be getting these. They’re long, slender, and floppy, with a slit running down the length, and they’re thinner than the ones you’d find at a hotdog stand, which typically uses thicker sausages.
These hotdogs are usually boiled instead of grilled, but you can cook them however you prefer. When grilled, they develop bubbles along the length and sometimes split open, but they still taste pretty decent!
15. Boerewors
Rating: 9/10
These are traditional South African sausages, and they’re commonly used in many hotdogs in Kenya. Even those Quickmart hotdogs that everyone raves about are made with boerewors sausages. They’re thicker and have a more varied texture compared to the all-soft Danish ones.
Boerewors is made from 100% beef, with added mutton fat. The mutton fat has a lower melting point and melts completely into the beef.
Also Read: Quickmart Hotdogs, Is the Hype Warranted?
