Going back to basics for a moment with these King Oscar Brisling Sardines in Olive Oil. Besides their Skinless Boneless pilchards, these are the least embellished fish in their range of products.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.
They would have looked better if some skin hadn't stuck to the lid. But they are nicely packed as one would expect of a producer of better quality tinned fish, like KO. The aroma of the olive oil is there, along with a mild fish scent. Extracting fish from the can, they lift out whole for the most part. There were the 8 on top, plus seven slightly less pretty ones underneath, in keeping with the two-layer notation.
As with other KO brisling offerings, they are packaged in a cellophane overwrap rather than a cardboard carton. Over time, the wording on this SKU has changed from saying "12-22 fish" to just "12+ fish".
Tasting them, I note there isn't much evidence of the "lightly smoked", which is described in the ingredients, but not prominently promoted otherwise. The fish are clean-tasting and tender, and the tails are soft, not prickly. Although catch area is not specified, they are packed in Poland, so one could assume FAO27 (Northeast Atlantic). These are of the quality one would expect from King Oscar.
Main Takeaways
- Two full layers, not just a few hiding under the many
- Smoke is MIA
- Still a top quality brisling
These were from Walmart, where they were inexplicably priced around $3.50. Fortunately, they can be had cheaper, as little as $2.50 or thereabouts, in quantity from Amazon.
Brand: King Oscar
Description: Brisling in Olive Oil
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Poland
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $3-4