I got this Olasagasti Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil from Amazon, although it can be had directly from International Loft for the same price. A little spendy at $10 a can, but since tuna is the brand's main focus, I hoped it would be worth it. Let's see if it was.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.
Another of those stiff cans that's hard to open without a splat of oil. Very nice looking tuna, though. There's a nice, mild aroma. But it doesn't translate to the oil, which is quite neutral in taste and completely transparent. The olive oil isn't listed as anything special, but one has to assume it's Spanish.
It's mostly a solid chunk of tuna, with very little in the way of loose bits. A nibble or two reveals it has a tender texture and a mild flavor, with only a hint of tuna "tang". Sodium is listed at 470 mg, but it doesn't taste that salty. Regardless, the level is enough to be complementary to the tuna, but subtle enough to not be distracting.
Let's See What We've Got
The can was packed really tightly. Extracting the meat whole from the can was difficult, so it was necessary to pry it out in chunks. Everything was solid, though, no loose bits hiding underneath.
I poured the oil over everything and proceeded to dig in. The meat flaked nicely, and I continued to note how mild and tender it was throughout.
But, not being one to leave well enough alone, I had to make an excuse to try a new chili crisp I had just received.
This one, by Fusion Select, was actually quite a nice enhancement. It wasn't so hot as to overpower the delicate taste of the tuna. It's not as salty as some others, with a relatively modest 280mg. per 2 tablespoon serving. I didn't use that much, and found its added sweetness balanced out the heat and salt, making the entire combination quite delicious.
Main Takeaways
- Mild, flavorful tuna
- Solid yellowfin
- Salt level just right
- A little pricey, but premium quality all around
I found it a little odd that the can notes catch area FAO 51, which is Western Indian Ocean. Closer examination of the carton reveals it is only processed in Spain. No matter, still really good tuna.
Brand: Olasagasti
Description: Yellowfin Tuna in Olive Oil
Species: Thunnus albacares
Country of Origin: Spain (processed)
Source: FAO51, Western Indian Ocean
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 3.95 oz.
Price Range: $10