Sardines Archives - Sardeenz!

Season Sardines in 100% Olive Oil

These Season Sardines in 100% Olive Oil were found at Aldi, where they were priced at $2.49. Usually, their sardine offerings have been limited to a rotating selection of Northern Catch (house brand) that at times has been herring, other times pilchards, and yet other times sprats. Hard to be a loyal sardine customer there. So, these were a potentially welcome surprise.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

Not the prettiest can of fish. Skin a little roughed up and I see a tail, unusual for pilchards from Morocco. There's a bit of a fishy aroma, stronger than I'm accustomed to or would prefer. But not like spoilage. A sip of the oil is unrevealing. There's also a version marked "in extra virgin olive oil" with a different UPC.

Let's Eat

These are big, but not too big. There are five total. I lifted them out of the can rather than dump. I've been increasingly diligent about observing net weight vs. drained weight calories with tinned fish packed in oil.

There's quite a bit of oil left in the tin. The carton lists 250 calories drained weight, but the net content is 39gm. higher, and that's all oil. If it's not going to contribute to flavor, then all it's adding is fat calories at the rate of 133 per tablespoon (15gm.). So dumping it all here would turn 250 calories into 596 calories.

If I'm going to add that much in saturated fat, it's going to be something that spices things up, like a chili oil. To that end, I only poured about a tablespoon of the remaining oil over the fish and rice.

The fishy aroma has dissipated somewhat. The meat yields easily to the pierce of a fork, but it's not mushy. On the palate, they're a bit dry and a little mealy. The salt level is listed as 340mg. but it tastes far lower, leaving things bland as well.

I have a second can that I am now not in any hurry to open. But when I do, I'll have the chili crisp ready.

Main Takeaways

Not the prettiest fish
Fishy aroma
A little dry, mealy, bland
Needed salt

Brand: Season Brand, LLC
Description: Sardines in 100% Olive Oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.375 oz.
Price Range: $3

King Oscar Skinless & Boneless Spanish Style Sardines

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I've been waiting for my local Walmart to have these back in stock for a while now. Fully described as King Oscar Skinless & Boneless Sardines, Spanish Style in Olive Oil. As is usual with KO skinless/boneless sardines, these are pilchards.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

I didn't include a photo of the just-opened can because it looked like any other can of King Oscar skinless/boneless pilchards. My assumption was that whatever was included in the can would be underneath the fish, so photographing that would have been moot. Perhaps the idea is that one is expected to dump the fish out onto a plate, et voila! there are the inclusions nicely perched atop the liberated can contents.

Such was not the case, as I chose to do as I usually do, which is to dig portions straight out of the can. I did manage to find the carrot and cucumber, but felt a little disappointed to find no actual whole pepper. These were not as firm as I have come to expect from KO. Digging around to find the veggies created a bit of a mush. They still tasted fine. However, if there was supposed to be any pepper to convey some heat, both it and the heat were absent. Maybe the pepper lady was on break when this can went down the line. I will reserve final judgement until after opening the second can I bought.

Revisit a Year Later

I opened a second can that had been languishing in my stash for quite some time, over a year in fact. As before, the additions were underneath the fish.

Four hefty pilchard loins this time, and the pepper missing from that first tin. I plucked them and the veggies from the tin, and poured about half the remaining oil over everything.

A sip of the oil reveals the pepper has done its job, bringing a moderate level of heat. There was also a pickle in there, hidden between two fish stuck together.

These are firmer than the last can, but at the expense of moisture. They are a tad on the dry side, but not a deal breaker.

Main Takeaways

June 2025: Not as firm as typical King Oscar boneless skinless. September 2026: Firm as expected.
June 2025: Flavorful but absent heat. September 2026: Pepper has done its job.

See it on Amazon.

Brand: King Oscar
Description: Skinless & Boneless Sardines in Olive Oil, Spanish Style
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.23 oz.
Price Range: $2-3

Diplomats Fried Brisling Sardines in Sriracha

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These Diplomats Fried Brisling Sardines in Sriracha Sauce were found at World Market. They were a new item, one of a handful of flavor varieties. The brand sounded familiar, but I couldn't quite remember why. Before I had a chance to open them, I realized that I had forgotten I watched a youtube review of another Diplomats brisling flavor. It did not go well at all. So I 'm hoping to not be equally disappointed.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

At first glance, not as bad as I had feared. The Sriracha sauce is thick and clinging to the fish. Some oil has separated but neither it nor the sauce fill the can. The aroma is of pepper and vinegar. I can't really see evidence of frying. Perhaps more will be revealed once they're out of the tin.

Let's See What We've Got Here

I chose to lift them out rather than just dump. They are clumped together, and I can't tell if that's from the frying or just the sauce gluing them together.

Separating them with a fork, I see some tails, typical of Latvian sprats. There appear to be just 9 fish total, not exactly small for sprats.

An initial taste of the sauce is unsurprising, it's basically just Sriracha sauce. The label also indicates soy flour and rapeseed oil, but that appears related to the frying. There's not really anything in the way of a coating, more like they were just floured and fried. The oil in the bottom of the tin is likely more from the frying than separated from the sauce.

Digging in, they are firm enough, in no way the mushy mess the youtuber experienced. The tails aren't prickly at all, a plus. The only problem I'm having is the Sriracha sauce overpowering any flavor the fish might have imparted. It's hot, but not too hot. Nonetheless, I found it fatiguing towards the end.

Main Takeaways

Firm, meaty sprats
Not sure what the frying added
Overpowering sauce

Brand: Unda Ltd. / Diplomats
Description: Fried brisling in sriracha sauce
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO27 Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.53 oz.
Price Range: $5

Sultan Moroccan Sardines Boneless/Skinless in Olive Oil

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These Sultan Moroccan Sardines Boneless/Skinless in Olive Oil came from a Middle Eastern market from which I had previously obtained other Sultan varieties. Supply chain issues had briefly impacted their ability to stock the variety of tinned fish I'm used to finding there. As such, these were the only "new to me" selection available. Let's see how they are.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

They look about the same as most boneless skinless sardines, sort of a drab, pale color. There's a bit of a sulfurous odor, but it quickly dissipates. The oil, what there is of it, is similarly pale, almost clear. Unusual for olive oil. A sip of it has a subtle flinty, mineral note.

Let's Dig In

And by "dig in", I mean literally. They are packed in there tight, so much so I can't even get a count. I had to pry them out of the tin in chunks. There was so much fish in the can, there was barely any oil left after I got them all out.

The first bite was a disappointment. The fish is dry and a bit mealy. Perhaps some more oil and some less fish would have prevented this, I don't know. Continuing on, the flavor is bland and needs salt badly. Sodium is listed at a relatively low 240mg.

I was able to improve things a bit with some hot chili oil. It added flavor, salt and some needed moisture. So, not a total loss. Having said that, I think I will go back and get some more. They were quite the bargain at under $3 for a generous 4.41oz. portion that was 95% fish. That's a lot of protein for the money, tinned fish-wise. If the next can isn't any better on its own merits, I'll know how to deal with it.

Main Takeaways

Dry and a bit mealy
Bland and needed salt
Generous portion

Brand: Sultan
Description: Sardines boneless/skinless in olive oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.41 oz.
Price Range: $3

Nice Cans Smoked Sardines in Organic Olive Oil

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These Nice Cans Smoked Sardines in Organic Olive Oil were found, surprisingly, at a local chain supermarket location. Surprising in that they are considered a boutique label under the JOSE Gourmet brand, both under the umbrella of 100 Misterios. Their offerings consist of only three variations, these, a rosemary fennel and a tomato and pepper version. I already tried those and although the seasonings didn't blow me away, the sardines themselves were top notch. Let's see how these are.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Skin is in reasonably decent shape. No scales or tails, but some pelvic fins. The oil is an amber color, perhaps darker than expected due to whatever process applied the smoke.

The aroma is smoky, masking any scent of the fish. A sip of the oil is similarly smoky.

Let's Eat

There are four medium-size pilchards total. They lifted from the tin intact and felt somewhat firm while doing so. Of the three or so tablespoons of oil remaining in the tin, I poured about half over everything.

The fish are nice and meaty. Not juicy by any means, but tender enough. The smoke flavor is pervasive but not overpowering. I didn't find it fatiguing on the palate as smoking sometimes can be. Nothing I could find on the carton specified how the smoke was applied.

Saltiness is just above average at 480mg. The full name of the product includes "and sea salt" so I suppose it's intentional. I didn't find it excessive.

These have crept up in price in the last 12 months from $10 to $11 or more online. It was therefore a both a shock and a welcome surprise to find them where I did for only $8. I should go back for more.

Main Takeaways

Firm, meaty fish
Flavorful smoke

Brand: 100 Misterios / Nice Cans
Description: Smoked sardines in organic olive oil and sea salt
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $8

Porthos Sardines in Hot Vegetable Oil

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These Porthos Sardines in Hot Vegetable Oil came with a recent order from International Loft. I've had other Porthos selections before, including a spiced variation I recall being quite pleased with. Let's try these.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

It's been a while since I opened a tin to find sardines this nice looking. The skin is in perfect shape, and I see no scales. The aroma is fresh, but I note nothing in the way of spice on the nose. A sip of the oil is clean tasting, but no chili heat to speak of. The oil has a coloration more like olive oil, but it is sunflower.

Let's Eat

We have four medium to large fish. There is sufficient headroom in the tin to lift them all out mostly intact. Probably four tablespoons of the oil remain in the can, and I poured about half over everything. There is one small, lone piri pepper.

Digging in, the fish are beautifully tender and moist, while at the same time satisfyingly meaty. They are devoid of scales, always a plus.

Still not getting anything in the way of heat, I guess the small pepper wasn't up to the task. The ingredients also list chili pepper flavoring, but I could see no visual evidence of it in the oil.

I also thought they lacked salt. Sodium is listed at an average 340mg. for the tin.

This would have been an outstanding tin of fish if not for the lack of promised pepper heat. Not sorry I tried them, but I think I'll stick to the spicy in olive oil version in the future.

Main Takeaways

Tender, moist, meaty fish
Chili heat AWOL
Needed some salt

Brand: Conservas Portugal Norte / Porthos
Description: Sardines in hot vegetable oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $6

Mabuti Sardines in Pure Olive Oil and Tomato Sauce

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These Mabuti Sardines in Pure Olive Oil and Tomato Sauce also came from International Loft. Based upon my experience with the spiced variety, I am hoping these will be as impressive, but there's an unexpected aspect to this tin I'm curious about. Time to find out.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

I'll cut right to the chase. The unusual thing about this tin is its date codes. The spiced variety I received at the same time was imprinted 145/25 and DEC/31/32. I took that to mean canned on the 145th day of 2025 (over a year ago) and an expiration date 7-ish years thereafter. But this tin had 014/22 and DEC/31/29. Again, a 7-plus year gap, but why are these more than three years older than the other? I decided to be optimistic and hope what I had in hand was potentially a vintage sardine experience.

Out of the unblemished wrapper, the tin was not rusty nor did it appear compromised in any way I could see. I forged ahead, and opened it. There was no suspicious aroma or appearance of degradation. In fact, they were not much different looking than almost any other tin of sardines in tomato sauce I've tried. Some loose skin like the other tin, but to a lesser extent. No scales apparent.

Let's See What We've Got Here

The sauce has a good bright color, with the appearance of crushed tomato in olive oil. A sip of it is somewhat bland, there being no additional seasoning to it other than salt.

In this case we have 6 fish as opposed to the 8 in the other tin, only mildly disappointing. Lifting them from the tin, they are not the "fall-apart-y" tender I was anticipating from the extra time in the can. I poured the remaining sauce over everything.

Digging in, they are still firm and have quite good sardine flavor that shines through the just-serviceable tomato sauce. I wouldn't characterize them as dry, but the moisture level I rate as acceptable. They're not too salty, despite the stated 500mg. sodium.

These pale in head-to-head comparison with the spiced version I received. That may or may not, however, have more to do with the three year difference in harvest and packing. Not the vintage experience the age might have implied, but then I wasn't paying for vintage sardines, either. My advice, if you order some, is stock up on the spiced and maybe try one can of these.

Main Takeaways

Good sardine flavor
Unremarkable tomato sauce
Not the vintage sardine experience cans of this age often exhibit

Brand: Pinhais/Mabuti
Description: Sardines in olive oil and tomato sauce
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.17 oz.
Price Range: $6