These Berthe Sardines in Olive Oil are from a brand I've been interested in trying for a long time. Buying from a source I don't typically deal with would likely have involved paying more in the way of shipping. I found them on a 10% price reduction at Amazon. Let's see if they were worth the wait.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
Nice looking pilchards, packed silvery bellies up. I see a few scales and some pectoral fins. The aroma is just of fresh sardine. A sip of the light golden-colored olive oil is neutral, and hasn't picked up any flavor of the fish.
There are four sizeable fish, and in picking them out of the can with a fork, I note each one has a "give" to it. They are soft, and barely make it to the rice bowl intact without breaking in two.
Time To Eat
Digging in, they are impossibly tender. I know I recently said I never encountered a sardine I could characterize as truly juicy, but these just might be it. You can see the moisture glistening from the cut flesh.
There were a couple tablespoons-worth of oil left in the tin, and I poured just half over the fish and rice.
Continuing on, I note they are just as tender in the mouth as the physical feel of them implied while getting them out of the tin. They are not mushy, maybe borderline "fall-apart-y" as some like to call it, but definitely melt-in-your-mouth tender.
If anything was lacking, it might be a little salt, although the listed 370 mg. sodium was by no means low. I'll note this for the next can, and make arrangements to deal with it, if need be. Because I will be getting these again.
Main Takeaways
- Nice looking pilchards
- Impossibly tender
- Dare I say juicy?
See it at Amazon.
Brand: Ramirez & Ca. / Berthe
Description: Sardines in olive oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $9-10