This El Manar Light Tuna Flakes with Harissa came from that Middle-Eastern market I go to to look for new sardines. I hadn't seen this tin there before, and was a bit curious as to why tins dated from 2024 suddenly showed up in 2026, but the best by date was 2027, so I took a chance. I was hoping to see the El Manar Sardines in Harissa I knew they'd had before back in stock, but no luck. This can seemed like a good opportunity to see what their harissa sauce was like. At $4.29, I hoped for the best.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.6/5.
Looks a bit mushy. Described as tuna flakes, I wasn't expecting filets, but I'm hoping that digging in will reveal something more appealing. The aroma is as expected, tuna-fishy. Not really getting a sense of the harissa.
Time To Eat
OK, out of the can things are improved. It's what I'd call a chunk light tuna. I can't find anything on the company website that says what kind, though. An Amazon listing says bluefin, but I'm skeptical as it's not a Mediterranean species typically seen canned.
What you see is about three fourths of the can, which is a generous 5.71oz. It says two servings, but I may just finish it all if it's good.
A taste of the tuna is encouraging. The heat of the sauce hits just right, complementing but not overpowering the tuna flavor. Whatever kind it is, I find it satisfyingly flavorful.
The harissa is sunflower oil-based and includes red hot peppers, garlic, coriander, caraway and citric acid. The heat is steady but moderate, the spices well-balanced and the citric acid brings a welcome note of bright tanginess. The salt level is just right at 355mg.
I did end up finishing the whole can, if that tells you anything. This tuna is about $3.50 a can in quantity on Amazon, and, honestly, I could see myself pulling the trigger on a 10 count.
Main Takeaways
- Moist, flavorful tuna
- Well-balanced application of harissa
- Generous portion
Brand: ManarThon-Zarzis / El Manar
Description: Light tuna flakes with harissa
Species: Bluefin?
Country of Origin: Tunisia
Source: FAO37, Mediterranean Sea
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 5.71 oz.
Price Range: $3-4