Pay attention, reader. These JOSÉ Gourmet Sardines with Lemon in Olive Oil are, to date, the manifestation of what I think "sardines with lemon" should be. And I mean that in all respects.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
These are some really nice looking fish. There was no promise of what size these would be on the carton, but I'm really happy that they're smaller. Hopefully, that's consistent from can to can.
There's no overtly fishy aroma. The oil is tinged slightly yellow, which I hoped meant good things, either in terms of olive oil flavor or lemon-wise. I tasted the oil, as I usually do, and found a subtle yet realistic lemony essence.
Pulling fish from the can, they are firm enough. But tasting them, they are beautifully melt-in-your-mouth tender. No scales evident at all. Almost as perfect as a skin-on, bone-in pilchard can be. The lemon flavor is spot-on. There's a half slice in the bottom of the can. It retains its citrus flavor well enough so that bits of it consumed with the fish only improve the experience. Even the rind is worth tasting. Highly recommended.
I happened to crack open this can while enjoying a glass of a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. Its own lemony notes complemented the sardines well, its bright acidity cutting through the richness of the fish and olive oil nicely.
Revisit and Update
It's been about a year since I reviewed these, and I decided to pull another tin from my stash to see if they were still as good as I remembered.
Only four, larger fish this time. Some skin broken, even missing on a couple. Not nearly as pretty as the original can. Initial impression points reduced to 4.6/5.
I dumped them out, oil and all, over rice. They are as tender and moist as before, despite the downgraded appearance and larger size. The lemon flavor might have been a tad less impressive, but the lemon slice retained some of its citrus tang. Still recommended.
Main Takeaways
- Really nice looking fish, but can vary
- Top notch lemon flavor
- The lemon sardine to beat
See it at Amazon. They are well-priced there when purchased in packs of three or more.
Brand: 100 Misterios / JOSÉ Gourmet
Description: Sardines with Lemon in Olive Oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $9