This MW Polar Smoked Herring with Pepper came from Walmart. I've been happy with other MW Polar tinned fish products do far, and hoped this one wouldn't be an exception. For $3.58 for a 7oz. tin, it was hard to pass up. Let's see how it tastes.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
The appearance of the contents mirrors the representation of it on the can more closely than about any other I've seen to date. It's a generous portion. The meat has a bronze coloration suggesting natural smoke. The aroma is similarly smoky. Tiny bits of finely diced red pepper dot the surface of the fillets. A sip of the packing brine is broth-like and tinged with smoke flavor.
Let's Eat
The fillets lift out of the tin largely intact. On closer inspection, it's three fillets with skin on the bottom. There's a good deal of the broth/brine left in the tin, and I poured about half over the fish and rice. Net drained weight accounts for 130gm. of the 200gm. total.
The meat has a good smoke flavor, and the brine has kept it moist and juicy. The last ingredient on the list is beechwood smoke, and since I don't see a claim of natural smoking, I have to assume it's just an added flavoring. Nonetheless, it doesn't taste artificial or acrid, so that's a plus.
The pepper content appears confined to the red pepper and some paprika, but there is an impression of black pepper to the seasoning as well. The salt level is just right, coming in at 360mg. for the entire, two serving can.
Main Takeaways
- Generous portion
- Tender, juicy fish
- Good smoke flavor
All things considered, a satisfying tin of smoked herring, seasoned well, and a bargain at under $4.
Brand: MW Polar
Description: Smoked herring with pepper
Species: Clupea harengus
Country of Origin: Germany
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 7.05 oz.
Price Range: $3-4