February 2026 - Sardeenz!

Ferrigno Sardines with Butter, Garlic and Parsley

These Ferrigno Sardines with Butter, Garlic and Parsley came from World Market about three months ago. I don't know why it took so long to open them. This would be my first experience with sardines packed in butter; it's not all that common.

Ferrigno is known for whimsical artwork on its tins. Here, two chefs joust with pugil sticks and shields on platforms over water. The line at the bottom translates as, "Ready to be pan-fried!"

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

From what I can see, these are some nice, hefty pilchards. There appear to be four in total.

Ideally, before opening, the tin should be held under hot running water or placed in a bath of hot water to melt the butter. Unfortunately, that wasn't convenient, so I'm relying on the heat from a bowl of rice to do the work instead. The butter is congealed at room temperature, and it made prying the fish out of the tin intact somewhat difficult.

The aroma is of butter and garlic, no surprise, but they mask any scent of the fish.

Butter Up

It took a moment for the butter to start melting. It appears to be clarified, which is a plus. Plain melted butter and seafood don't really go together.

Fortunately, the heat of the rice has allowed the aromas of butter and garlic to bloom even more.

Digging in, the fish are firm and meaty. The garlicky butter complements the fish well, adding an enhanced richness. The salt level is just right, and I'm certain the US English card insert listing just 20mg. sodium for the entire can is a typo.

I don't detect any scales, and the fish as a whole seem cleanly processed.

Main Takeaways

Meaty, flavorful pilchards
Well-balanced garlic butter seasoning

These were a bit pricey, but I think worth it. I'd buy them again.

Brand: Ferrigno
Description: Sardines with butter garlic and parsley
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: France
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $7-8

Espinaler Sardines in Spicy Vegetable Oil 3/5

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These Espinaler Sardines in Spicy Vegetable Oil 3/5 came with a Caputo's order from a few weeks ago. I'd had their baby sardines in spicy olive oil and their regular 3/5 sardines in olive oil, and found them both OK. I may have just added these to make the order a little bigger. They ship tinned fish orders for free, and I always like to get at least 6 or more cans at a time, out of a sense of fairness to the vendor.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The 3/5 means you should expect 3 to 5 fish. Here we have four. It's a deep can, so they're a large four. Nicely packed silver belly side-up, but I can see a few things I would rather had been cleaned out better during processing. There are no scales evident, but there are a couple tails. There are also a few bits of what looks like grass. The Espinaler in the blue cartons are their "classic" line, so they're not expensive as imported Spanish sardines go, but my previous experience with them has been of cleaner-looking fish.

The aroma doesn't reveal much. A sip of the mostly clear (sunflower) oil is neutral. I thought for a moment I detected a modicum of heat, but a second sip was confirmedly bland. The applied US label covering the back panel of the carton lists "sweet chili flavour", which I thought was odd for a tin labeled "picantes" (hot).

Let's Eat

Heaving them out over rice, they remained largely intact. I removed and set aside some things from the cavities that were visually unappealing. Don't get me wrong, I live in a part of the country with abundant, fresh seafood, and I eat some things folks from elsewhere probably wouldn't touch. It's not that I thought whatever these parts were was harmful, I just chose not to let them get in the way of my enjoyment, if you get my meaning.

Anyway, the fish are tender and moist. I wouldn't call them juicy, and honestly, I don't think I've ever had a sardine I'd characterize as juicy that wasn't really just mushy. These do have a good sardine flavor, though.

They're a bit on the salty side, even though the carton lists only 390mg. sodium. It's not a deal breaker.

The problem here is that there's no heat or spice. There's no physical pepper in the can, so I don't know if they just forgot to squirt whatever "flavour" makes them "picantes" into the can or what.

Main Takeaways

Tender, moist fish, but some visually unappealing bits I could have done without
A little salty
Where's the heat?

I've liked the other Espinaler tins I've had so far, so it's a bit disappointing this one didn't deliver as promised.

Brand: Espinaler
Description: Sardines in spicy vegetable oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $5

Maria Organic Mackerel Fillets with Organic Piri-Piri

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These Maria Organic Mackerel Fillets with Organic Piri-Piri came from Caputo's a few weeks ago. It's been a while since I cracked open a can of mackerel, and I also wanted to compare this one to some from Minerva I had about six weeks ago.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

Some really pristine looking mackerel fillets. I don't see any piri-piri pepper (yet), and the oil is a greenish gold rather than the expected tinge of red from the pepper. The aroma isn't revealing anything about the fish or the seasoning. A sip of the oil is similarly ambiguous.

Let's See What We Have Here

There are three hefty fillets. Each pulled from the tin intact. And there's the lone piri-piri pepper. (That Minerva I had before was spiced with the traditional pickle, carrot and pepper.)

A substantial amount of oil remained in the deep can. It's organic EVOO, and not wanting to let it go to waste, I poured it all over everything. Initially perhaps a bit of overkill, but in retrospect not.

The meat is firm but tender and flakes readily. The flavor is mild with only a very slight "tang". The salt level is enough to be complementary without being obtrusive. I'm ambivalent about experimenting with any condiments, but ultimately decide against it.

The thing that's lacking, though, is any real input from the piri-piri. In some cases, one lone pepper can really fire things up; in others two or three might do nothing. I don't suppose the heat potential of any pepper can be realistically assessed in the canning process.

I finished the fish, then ate the pepper, seeds and all. No flavor to it whatsoever. Fortunately, the mackerel stood on its own quite well, so the disappointment over the spiciness was minimal.

Main Takeaways

Beautiful mackerel fillets
High quality organic EVOO
Piri-piri spice MIA

Breaking down the carton for archiving, I noticed the date stamp indicated it was packaged December 2023. I was a bit surprised this can purchased in January 2026 had taken that long to sell.

Brand: 100 Misterios / Maria Organic
Description: Mackerel Fillets with piri-piri in organic EVOO
Species: Scomber japonicus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $8-9

Regalis Baby Sardines in Olive Oil

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These Regalis Baby Sardines in Olive Oil came up during a search on Amazon for some other sardines, I think as one of those "you might like" recommendations you are often bombarded with there. At $10, they weren't cheap, but they were from Spain, and 16-20 count baby pilchards usually come at a premium. I was either going to be pleasantly surprised or deeply disappointed. Let's see which.

The carton I received said "baby sardines", and did not bear the MSC certification logo. There is nothing on the carton or can that I can decipher as a packing date. They are dated "best by" December 2026, a short ten months away. Most fresh tins right now are dated 5 years out, so 2031. This tells me these are not big sellers. Looking at the vendor information on Amazon, it appears they are a private label, original cannery source unknown.

An adhesive label covers the entire back of the carton, potentially obscuring any further information. I was able to remove it without damage to the underlying carton face. The only material differences were a restating of nutritional information based on the entire can being a serving, a slight change in verbiage re: harvest area, and the addition of the California Prop 65 warning.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The skin is a little rough, but they look firm. There are no scales and maybe one tail visible. And the aroma is still fresh enough. I'm taking that as a good sign that I might be enjoying some vintage baby pilchards without the vintage price. A sip of the lightly golden-hued olive oil is neutral.

In the deep can, there are twelve visible. Past experience with various brands of sprats sold as "two layer" or "12 to 22 fish" makes me wonder if there will be only a handful underneath.

Digging In

Wow! Not only was there a full second layer, there were 22 fish total, exceeding the 16 to 20 count promised.

All but one was able to be extracted from the can intact. About a tablespoon of olive oil remained in the tin, and I poured the majority of it over everything.

The fish are small enough to each be consumed in one bite. The texture is pleasantly firm, but the meat is tender and flavorful. They seem a little salty, and the carton confirms 670mg. sodium. A little on the high side, but not problematic.

After about two thirds of the tin, I added a little Micro Pharms Crunchy Garlic Oil to the rest. It's not salty at all, and its crunchy bits are on the larger side as compared to most products of its type. I found it complemented the fish well.

Main Takeaways

Tender and flavorful
A tad salty, but not a deal breaker
Vintage sardine flavor and texture

Buying an unknown brand can often be a crapshoot, but in this case it worked out very well.

Brand: Regalis Foods
Description: Baby sardines in olive oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4 oz.
Price Range: $10

MW Polar Fancy Whole Smoked Oysters

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I picked these MW Polar Fancy Whole Smoked Oysters up at a local supermarket months ago. I bought them mainly for two reasons: I hadn't tried this brand's smoked oysters yet, and they were relatively cheap. I've always been satisfied with MW Polar tinned seafood products, having had their kipper snacks and smoked sprats. At $1.79, I could afford to be curious.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

The aroma when cracking the lid was about as expected: a typical but light smokiness. They appear nicely packed, and whole, as noted on the carton. The "fancy" is just marketing. Size-wise, they are about average. There appears to be about twenty in there. A sip of the oil, cottonseed as is typical of Chinese smoked oysters, doesn't really echo anything in the way of smokiness.

Snack Time

I'd already had a small lunch, but was still a little hungry, so having these as a snack seemed like a good way to solve that.

Texturally, they are pretty much the usual: half meaty/half mealy. The flavor is not really any different from a half dozen similar others I've tried. If anything, they are less smoky-tasting, even though the carton touts them as being naturally wood smoked. A little more salt might have been welcome, as they contained a moderately low 230mg. sodium.

Main Takeaways

Typical canned smoked oysters
Subtle level of smoke

I'll continue my search for a relatively inexpensive tin of smoked oysters that makes me forget about the rest. Thankfully, it's a good thing I'm not in a hurry.

Brand: MW Polar
Description: Smoked oysters in cottonseed oil
Species: N/S
Country of Origin: China
Source: Farmed
Skin/Bones: N/A
Net Wt: 3.0 oz.
Price Range: $1-2

Wildfish Cannery Smoked Herring

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This Wildfish Cannery Smoked Herring came from Caputo's. My experience with herring to date has largely been confined to kipper snacks and a few tins where herring is sold as sardines. This herring is expensive by comparison to those. But a take on smoked herring from a small cannery piqued my interest.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

Compared to smoked salmon from this and similar sources, the visual is kind of unappealing. There is some skin, as well as visible spines and soft bones. Rather than a rich mahogany, the smoke has only reinforced the dull brown hue of the herring.

The aroma of smoke is pleasant enough. A sip of the packing liquid (no oil is listed) is reminiscent of a smoky seafood broth. The ingredients list includes sea salt, brown sugar, garlic, black pepper and alderwood smoke.

Digging In

The fish is in small chunks which tend to fall apart as they are picked out of the tin. From what I've read, the loins are cut into smaller chunks before smoking, I assume in order to maximize the smoke exposure.

The bones and spines are easy enough to overlook as they are soft enough to be relatively undetectable on the palate.

The fish doesn't seem overly salty. The sodium level is listed as a surprisingly low 170mg. But then I note the can is considered two servings, so per can it lands somewhat near average.

I expected the brown sugar to play a bigger part in the flavor profile, but the smoke predominated. Not overwhelmingly, just the most forward of anything listed.

Main Takeaways

Visually kind of blah
Smoke level forward but not cloying
Other seasonings overshadowed by the smoke

I'm glad I gave this a try, but all things considered I'd have to say I prefer smoked herring in the kipper snacks style, which also has the benefit of being comparatively quite inexpensive. Oh, well.

Some Random Thoughts on Marketing

You've probably noticed by now the use of eye-catching graphics by some smaller (and not so small) boutique canneries, two from Alaska come to mind.

I find puzzling the phenomenon of taking an already premium-priced product and making it even more costly by printing extensive graphics on the inside of the carton.

In this particular case, the ingredients, already noted three times on the outside, are repeated on four panels inside. Two company logos are printed on bottom flaps that will never be seen unless the carton is completely disassembled, something most people doubtfully ever do. That the fish are packed by hand is noted no less than ten times on both outer and inner panels.

I guess, once you've decided to print on both sides of something, the only added cost is the ink.

Brand: Wildfish Cannery
Description: Smoked Herring
Species: Alaska Herring
Country of Origin: USA
Source: FAO67, Northeast Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.5 oz.
Price Range: $8

Sultan Moroccan Sardines with Oil & Hot Peppers

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I got these Sultan Moroccan Sardines with Oil & Hot Peppers at the same time as the previously reviewed tin with olive oil and hot peppers. These cost about 50 cents less, but are packed in sunflower oil. I was curious to see if the difference was worth it.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

A comparison of these and the others in olive oil places these on top visually. They are less ragged, and look a little larger. I note some scales here, though.

The oil is less red in color. The aroma is about the same, just subtly of fresh sardine. A sip of the oil does not knock me back like the other can did.

Let's Eat

There are only five fish this time, as compared to six for the olive oil version.

Three peppers this time instead of two, but they haven't delivered the heat level of the other can. There were a couple tablespoons-worth of oil left in the can, and I poured about half over everything.

The fish are meaty and tender, but the texture seems a little mealier than the olive oil version. And, although the carton lists the same 440mg. sodium, they taste far less salty than the other.

I ate three as-is, but then spiced up the rest with some Mishima Chef Troy's Recipe Crunchy Chili Garlic Sauce, a new one I recently picked up. I find it to be a well-balanced taberu rayu-style chili crisp, with equal parts garlic, onion, salt and sweet, plus a nutty crunch from the garlic and sesame.

Main Takeaways

Tender and meaty sardine, if not a tad mealy
Not as satisfyingly hot/spicy as olive oil version tried previously
Salt level lacking

I think I'd have to chalk the differences between these and the olive oil version up to just variance from can to can. Admittedly, basing judgement off of only one can of each isn't enough of a representative sample to be relied upon. Each had strengths and weaknesses the other lacked. But I think I'm more likely to try another can of the olive oil-packed version, all things considered.

Brand: Sultan
Description: Sardines with sunflower oil & hot pepper
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.41 oz.
Price Range: $3