Category: Sardines

Tried these after having the Brunswick plain skinless/boneless. They are of exactly the same quality, but with the addition of two or three skinny little red peppers. The ingredient list also states vinegar and citric acid, but it's hard to tell if that's added to the olive oil, or just required to be stated because it's in the peppers.

They are skinless/boneless pilchards, with the peppers adding a not-overpowering spicy pepper flavor. Not much else to add. I like them and have re-ordered them multiple times.

A bit of background, Brunswick was a Canadian cannery dating back to the late 19th century. It was acquired by Bumblebee, and some say the quality has suffered as a result. There's no way to make that comparison now, but suffice it to say the quality is on par with other well-regarding contemporaries.

Anyway, this is a definite try it/buy it again selection, and hard to beat at just over $2 a can. Available individually, or in lots of six or twelve at Amazon.

Brand: Bumblebee/Brunswick
Description: Sardines Served in Olive Oil with Mild Red Peppers
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $$

Lemon always adds a zing to the flavor of most fish, so it's not surprising many canners offer a lemon flavored variant. It's typically in the form of a slice of lemon added to the can on top of the fish. How much flavor it imparts to the fish and the packing oil can vary.

I'd seen a couple of youtube videos reviewing some low-priced and moderately-priced cans of sardines with lemon. In both, the reviewer was less than impressed. I had a can of the Fishwife brand I was waiting to try, and I wanted to see if this more premium offering might do a better job on the lemon flavor.

What exactly makes the slice of lemon in this can "preserved", I don't know; the package does not specify. It looked pretty much the same as the one in one of the video reviews, i.e. a cooked sliced of lemon. Rather than being laid on top of the fish, it was squeezed in between two of them.

One complaint the reviewer had about the moderately-priced can was that the fish were mushy. A commenter blamed that on the lemon, that the acidity denatured the proteins in the fish. A plausible reason, but I did not find this to be the case with the Fishwife brand. The reviewer's can was smaller brislings, while the Fishwife contains three sizeable pilchards, so that difference may or may not be a factor.

I found there to be a definite "essence" of lemon flavor infusing the oil, and that bites with smaller pieces of fish and a piece of the lemon gave a more satisfying lemon "experience". But was it an experience worth the $8 price? You'll have to decide that for yourself.

Brand: Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co.
Description: Sardines with Preserved Lemon
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Spain
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $$$

See it on Amazon

Went to Trader Joe's in search of some of their sardines I had seen reviewed on youtube. It took two trips as they were out of stock on one of them. I liked the first one, wanted to purchase more, and of course, when I went back it was out of stock on the second trip. Sigh...

Skinless & Boneless Sardines In Olive Oil

This is one of the few seen that list net weight (3.75oz.) as well as drained weight (2.8oz.). The can seems big; maybe it's just the atypical ratio of length to width that makes it appear that way. I think it may be because the can I got had the fillets oriented parallel to the width of the can vs. the more typical lengthwise. The ingredients list "Sardines, olive oil, salt", so no indication of what you're getting until you open the can. They might have been pilchards, but after seeing other opened cans of the same online, with the fish packed lengthwise, I'm not so sure. At $2.49, the quality and taste were more than acceptable, and the price in line with similar offerings costing 10 to 20% more.

Brand: Trader Joe's
Description: Skinless & Boneless Sardines In Olive Oil
Species: Pilchards?
Country of Origin: Morocco
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $$

Lightly Smoked Sardines in Olive Oil

The second was the one in the hard-to-miss hot pink can. It, too, listed net weight (4.25oz.) and drained weight (3oz.) which, at over an ounce, was a big swing compared to the first one. Ingredients were listed as "Sardines, olive oil, salt, natural smoke flavor." According to the TJ website they are pilchards, although they seem a little large, with only 3 or so per can. It hadn't dawned on me to check if these were skinless/boneless; they were not. Best advice: if it doesn't say, don't assume. These tasted fine, but reminded me that I prefer skinless/boneless, or at least boneless. Don't hate me for not being a purist.

Brand: Trader Joe's
Description: Lightly Smoked Sardines in Olive Oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.25 oz.
Price Range: $$

These are actually sold at Amazon, but at really stupidly high prices, so don't bother looking for them there.

The Brunswick brand, marketed by Bumblebee Seafoods, offers two different products that, at first glance, may seem identical, perhaps just a packaging variation, but upon closer inspection are two very different offerings.

Brunswick Skinless Boneless Sardines in Olive Oil

The first contains the more-traditional pilchards, the thumb-sized fish most often associated with the term sardines. Its tin is packaged in a cardboard carton. These compare favorably to the King Oscar offering, considered by many a standard by which to judge skinless/boneless pilchards, and can be had a slightly better price.

Brand: Brunswick
Description: Sardines Served in Olive Oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $$

See it on Amazon

A variation, served with mild red peppers, is also very good, and not too spicy.

Brunswick Boneless Butterflied Sardine Fillets in Olive Oil

The second version, upon inspection of its ingredient list, contains herring. While the pilchards version might contain four to six fish, this version contains roughly two fillets spanning the length and breadth of the can. This version also differs in that its tin is packaged in a cellophane wrapper, with the description "sardine fillets" rather than just "sardines", and "boneless butterflied" vs. "skinless/boneless". Herring is among the species legally allowed to be marketed as sardines, so technically there is no misrepresentation.

Brand: Brunswick
Description: Sardine Fillets in Olive Oil
Species: Herring
Country of Origin: Canada
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $$

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While different, both are satisfactory, quality products, so which ever one you happen to buy should not disappoint.

This selection is a great introduction to the world of sardines. Skinless and boneless pilchards packed in olive oil. Firm flesh and mild taste with none of the characteristics those new to sardines may find unappetizing. Available in several flavored variations including Spanish and Mediterranean styles.

KO packaging can be confusing as a result of its conformity. Buyers need to pay attention to the verbiage just below the color-coded banner. Terms like "two layer", "finest brisling", "12-22 fish" are an indication that you'll be getting smaller sardines that are traditionally (and practically) not skinless or boneless.

The King Oscar brand is respected and regarded as a standard by which to judge other brands. Their cans are typically packed to full capacity, and the contents rarely disappoint.

Brand: King Oscar
Description: Sardines in Olive Oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.38 oz.
Price Range: $$$

See it on Amazon