Another installment in the "sardines with lemon" series. These Minerva Sardines in Olive Oil with Lemon came from World Market. I think I have come to the conclusion that "with lemon" should not be regarded as a premium upgrade. They never seem to cost extra, but it always sounds like it should be an improvement over "not with lemon". It rarely is. We'll see if these are an exception.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.
The lemon half slice is right there on top. The content is a full can, there being three sizeable pilchards, plus one slightly smaller one. Not the prettiest fish, but a generous portion. The aroma is clean, not fishy.
A sip of the oil itself has a subtle lemon note, but it doesn't seem to transfer to the fish. The meat is firm, and, as with the spiced version tried previously, the fish is of good quality irrespective of the promise of the additional flavoring.
If you like Minerva sardines, and the regular ones in olive oil aren't available or is out of stock, these should do nicely in their stead.
Brand: A Poveira/MInerva
Description: Sardines in Olive Oil w/Lemon
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.25 oz.
Price Range: $5-6