After being impressed by their sardines with lemon, I ordered a can of these JOSÉ Gourmet Spiced Small Sardines. I pretty much knew what to expect in terms of "spiced", but wanted to see how well JG applied it.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.
The aromas of bay and clove were evident as soon as the can was cracked. As with the JG sardines with lemon, some nice looking fish. I was expecting smaller, but the size and count, six, is the same as the can of lemon sardines. Each fish lifted from the can whole without breaking, but the meat was tender and not dry. No scales evident.
The usual spice suspects were in the bottom: a slice each of pickle and carrot, a clove, a small piri-piri pepper and a few flakes of bay leaf. White pepper and salt round out the seasonings. The olive oil was nicely infused with them, the overall balance being just right. The carrot still had a little tooth to it. Not much in the way of heat from the piri-piri, though.
Examining the box, I see these are 3.2 oz. vs. 4.2 oz. for the lemon variation. So, apparently they are "small", even thought the count was the same. I did note the can seemed somewhat shallow.
Anyway, as spiced sardines go, these are top-notch, albeit a little spendy.
Main Takeaways
- Thought there'd be more fish
- Well-balanced seasonings
- Per ounce, pricey
See it at Amazon. Currently not well-priced there, though.
Brand: 100 Misterios / JOSÉ Gourmet
Description: Spiced Small Sardines
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.2 oz.
Price Range: $10