September 2025 - Sardeenz!

Sea Tales Sardines in Water

I bought these Sea Tales Sardines in Water at a place I wouldn't normally think to look for sardines. But I had read online they sometimes have them there, and at a bargain price. To be honest, if these weren't the only ones they had on hand, they would have been my last choice. I don't usually buy sardines packed in water, but another brand I tried recently wasn't all that bad, so I went ahead and got them. They were cheap compared to the brand's regular price, and I thought at $3 there wouldn't be anything to lose.

Initial impression upon opening the can: Meh...

They're really roughed-up looking. Three in the can. The wrapper claims hand packed. The aroma is a little fishy. A taste of the water, which has become sort of broth-like, is encouraging. But that's where the encouragement ends.

The first, nearly skinless one breaks apart as it's plucked from the can. The flavor is bland, reminiscent of cheaper boneless skinless pilchards. I checked the can for sodium content. Only 105mg, which is quite low. More salt might have saved these, but I doubt it. To be quite honest, this may be the first can in over a hundred I've tried that I've considered not finishing, just trashing the rest. And probably throwing away the second can I bought as well. There was nothing appealing about them, neither visually nor otherwise. Disappointing.

Main Takeaways

Thought I was getting a bargain
Visually unappealing
Needed salt

Brand: Sea Tales
Description: Sardines in water
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5-6

JOSÉ Gourmet Smoked Small Mackerel in Olive Oil

DeenLeave a comment

I chose this JOSÉ Gourmet Smoked Small Mackerel in Olive Oil as part of a recent online order not really knowing what I would get. There was no photo. The description didn't say fillets, but all the smoked mackerel I'd had before was either slices or chunks of fish. Perhaps "small" should have been a clue.

Initial impression upon opening the can: Oh, no...

OK, maybe that assessment was a little premature. The last whole small mackerel I had was not that impressive. Its seasonings were lackluster, and the loins of fish still had most of their fins.

Pressing on. The aroma and taste of a sip of the oil were both smoky, the latter quite distinctively. The carton doesn't specify method, but it was clearly derived from natural wood smoke. I want to say it was borderline acrid, but hoped it didn't translate to the fish that way.

Extracting a fish from the can, the skin is remarkably iridescent, shifting color from charcoal to gray to blue to bronze as it moves in the light. I know that's not really germane to the flavor, but interesting nonetheless. A bite of the fish is firm, but doesn't seem dry, at least not any drier than typical smoked fish.

Out onto rice, you can see they were substantial in size, even though described as small.

Trying to pierce them with a fork, they were resistant to being divided up into bites crosswise, but did readily split open along the spine.

Unfortunately, the smoke flavor was just strong enough to predominate, and by the end had become a little fatiguing on the palate. I also thought they might have benefited by a little more salt.

So far, I've been a fan of everything JOSÉ Gourmet I've tried, but this may be the exception. YMMV.

Main Takeways

Nice looking fish
Not as small as expected
Overly smoky

See it at Amazon.

Brand: 100 Misterios / JOSÉ Gourmet
Description: Smoked Small Mackerel in olive oil
Species: Scomber sp.
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $10

Conservas de Cambados Small Sardines 16/22

DeenLeave a comment

I received these Conservas de Cambados Small Sardines in Olive Oil with my last online order, and have been eager to try them. They also offer a very popular 20/25 count. As with many of their products, they are packaged in a cotton netting drawn and stapled closed at each end. Labels are affixed front and back.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Nice appearance with the silvery belly side up. A sniff of the freshly-opened can and a sip of the oil are similar. Both have a faint aroma and taste of fish and the sea. There are 8 visible on top, and 8 more underneath. They are not all that tiny, and this is one of those deeper cans. The 4 oz. net weight seems like an underestimate.

I ate the top layer straight from the can, unembellished by any condiments or additions. They were tender, even though they didn't break apart when plucked from the can. Their flavor is mild, and the salt level just right. These have a stand-alone quality a sardine purist can appreciate.

The remaining layer of eight, I dumped out over rice, along with a good portion of the olive oil left in the can.

With a few dashes of Salsa Espinaler, they made for a good, quick lunch. Alternatively, these would be perfect for an aperitivo board, alongside a selection of olives, cheeses and other briny and salty snacks.

While $12 might seem a little spendy for a can of sardines, consider that one, these are some quality fish, and two, it's almost like getting two cans-worth. Highly recommended.

Main Takeaways

Fresh fish taste with just the right amount of salt
A sardine purist's delight
Spendy but worth it

Brand: Conservas de Cambados
Description: Small Sardines in Olive Oil 16/22
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4 oz.
Price Range: $11-12

Les Mouettes d’Arvor Sardines with Lemon and Chili Pepper

DeenLeave a comment

These Les Mouettes d'Arvor Sardines with Lemon and Chili Pepper were among the baker's dozen cans I just received. Although my count may be off by one, I'm making them my 100th tin tasted. I'm choosing them because they represent (to me) several unusual characteristics: they're from France, they're unusually spiced, and they're by a brand with which I'm heretofore not familiar.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

These look nice, albeit the skin is a little torn up. It's one of those shallow cans, so I'm surprised to see six fish. There's no overt aroma. A sip of the oil is neutral and doesn't represent the flavors of the seasonings. The can says extra virgin olive oil, but I wouldn't have guessed it was otherwise. I'm not getting any of the back-of-throat heat I expect from chili pepper. Usually, lemon and chili pepper are mutually exclusive sardine flavorings. Once again, a can of French sardines lists "lemon confit", but this time there is nothing I would consider a confit.

There are some scales, some tails, and some pelvic fins. Perhaps that's common to French pilchard packing processes, or just this cannery, I don't know. The fish lift from the can intact. The meat is a little on the firm side, and with a somewhat dry mouth feel. Working my way through the can, the lemon and pepper are subtle, becoming more evident as I go. The heat is courtesy of one tiny piri-piri. The lemon seems confined to a long, thin strip of lemon skin, giving a more zest-like than a citrus note.

A paper label affixed to the lid side of the can lists all the particulars, even the name of the fishing vessel making the catch. I had to photograph it, since opening the can required tearing it back to access the ring.

The Gonidec family cannery, in business since 1959, is the last one remaining in Concarneau, a major French fishing port.

These weren't bad, overall. But I don't know that I'd buy them again.

Main Takeaways

More fish than expected
Lemon confit just some lemon skin
Not impressive enough to buy again

Available at Amazon. A little pricey there.

Brand: Les Mouettes d'Arvor
Description: Sardines with Lemon and Chili Pepper
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: France
Source: FAO27, Northeastern Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.06 oz.
Price Range: $10

Da Morgada Portugese Mackerel

DeenLeave a comment

This Da Morgada Portugese Mackerel was purchased at the same time as some of their spiced sardines. I enjoy tinned mackerel, with some exceptions, and this one was attractively priced. I was concerned that "cavala" meant I might be getting whole horse mackerel again, but that fear was unfounded. This carton doesn't have the gold accents their sardine carton did, but the graphics are quite eye-catching.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

Five really nice looking fillets. A sip of the oil is neutral. The fillets are firm enough to be plucked from the can intact. Their texture is slightly al dente, with a mild flavor. I am again reminded that I tend to prefer mackerel over sub-premium tuna. The ingredients list salt, and I thought it might have benefited from a little more. But I didn't have any on hand. I tried a few drops of Valentina on a bite, but it wasn't the improvement I was looking for.

My overall impression was mixed. I've had other mackerel in this price range or even lower that I liked just as well if not more than this one.

I really need to find a way to use this type of mackerel in some kind of dish, perhaps as a substitute for tuna in a Nicoise salad.

Main Takeaways

Firm, tasty mackerel meat
Could have used a little more salt
Re-purchase uncertain

Brand: Da Morgada
Description: Portugese mackerel
Species: Scomber sp.
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5

Tins Incoming

DeenLeave a comment

Latest order of tinned fish just arrived. Click on the photo to see what I got from Caputo's. Something in there will be the 100th can reviewed.

Mina Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil

DeenLeave a comment

This was a new item at a local independent supermarket. At what appeared to be an introductory price of $3.59, I went ahead and picked up a can of these Mina Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. I had previously tried their skinless & boneless version. Those I found acceptable, although I thought they could have fit another fish into the can.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

A mild fish aroma, slightly tuna-like. A sip of the oil is neutral, it doesn't really strike me as a good EVOO. Five fish, certainly stuffed in there tight. This is one of those deeper cans. I always think packing silvery belly side up (unlike here) makes for a better presentation. Plucking one out of the can, I see they are well-gutted, so maybe that wouldn't have been the best side to show off.

The texture is very tender. There are a few scales, but not enough to complain about. Continuing on, the mouth feel is a little dry. I decide to dump them out over rice and apply a little Salsa Espinaler.

You can see they got a little roughed up getting them out of the can. Only four of the five here because I always like to try the first fish on its own before combining or adding anything.

The Espinaler sauce seemed to improve things a bit. Mixed up with the rice and fish, it enhanced rather than overpowered.

I need to remember I have some other sardine-friendly condiments that I can try, like chili crisp or a mild harissa (which Mina also sells).

Anyway, I'm not sure these are a re-buy for me.

Available at Amazon, but only by the dozen. Priced well, though.

Brand: Mina/Casablanca Foods, Inc.
Description: Sardines in Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $3-4