Charqui or charque, is a form of jerky common in South America made from dried and salted meat, usually from horse, but also beef. The quechua word Charqui gave origin to the word jerky.

When encountered by the Spanish, llama jerky (the meat used was from the llama) was being used by the Inca Empire to store meat in tambo (inns) along the Inca road system so that travelers could eat meat when between cities. The Inca used a freeze drying process that took advantage of both the cold dry mountain air and strong sun in their homeland.

See also

• Charque