I received these Ati Manel Sardines in Spiced Olive Oil at the same time as the horse mackerel that I wasn't too fond of. I hoped these would be different.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.
Four nice sized pilchards, better four than three. The skin was largely intact, and there were only a couple scales noted. Being "spiced", I expected the usual pickle, carrot, peppercorn, clove and bay leaf. The front of the carton said "picantes" (hot), and the back said chili pepper, so I also expected some heat. A sip of the oil was neutral, until it hit the back of my throat. Then it was, "Whoa!", picante is right.
The fish were firm enough to lift from the can without breaking, but the meat was nice and tender. The spines on these were still small, so they didn't detract from the tenderness. There were pickle, carrot and a small chili pepper under the fish. No clove or bay leaf. Hard to believe just that small chili brought so much heat. They were noticeably a bit salty, too, but not overly so. Even though the pickle and carrot were evidently just for show, overall, I thought everything balanced out quite well.
Ati Manel is connected to JOSE Gourmet, ABC+, and MARIA Organic, all of which are under the umbrella of 100 Misterios. The firm is largely credited with having revived the declining Portuguese canned fish industry in the mid-2000s, and also helping to elevate Portugese gastronomy. Of the four, Ati Manel is intended to provide high QPR offerings.
Main Takeaways
- Peppery heat that sneaks up on you
- A bit salty, but not a deal killer
- Good value among premium small producer brands
Brand: 100 Misterios / Ati Manel
Description: Sardines in Spiced Olive Oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $8