These Regalis Baby Sardines in Olive Oil came up during a search on Amazon for some other sardines, I think as one of those "you might like" recommendations you are often bombarded with there. At $10, they weren't cheap, but they were from Spain, and 16-20 count baby pilchards usually come at a premium. I was either going to be pleasantly surprised or deeply disappointed. Let's see which.
The carton I received said "baby sardines", and did not bear the MSC certification logo. There is nothing on the carton or can that I can decipher as a packing date. They are dated "best by" December 2026, a short ten months away. Most fresh tins right now are dated 5 years out, so 2031. This tells me these are not big sellers. Looking at the vendor information on Amazon, it appears they are a private label, original cannery source unknown.
An adhesive label covers the entire back of the carton, potentially obscuring any further information. I was able to remove it without damage to the underlying carton face. The only material differences were a restating of nutritional information based on the entire can being a serving, a slight change in verbiage re: harvest area, and the addition of the California Prop 65 warning.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.
The skin is a little rough, but they look firm. There are no scales and maybe one tail visible. And the aroma is still fresh enough. I'm taking that as a good sign that I might be enjoying some vintage baby pilchards without the vintage price. A sip of the lightly golden-hued olive oil is neutral.
In the deep can, there are twelve visible. Past experience with various brands of sprats sold as "two layer" or "12 to 22 fish" makes me wonder if there will be only a handful underneath.
Digging In
Wow! Not only was there a full second layer, there were 22 fish total, exceeding the 16 to 20 count promised.
All but one was able to be extracted from the can intact. About a tablespoon of olive oil remained in the tin, and I poured the majority of it over everything.
The fish are small enough to each be consumed in one bite. The texture is pleasantly firm, but the meat is tender and flavorful. They seem a little salty, and the carton confirms 670mg. sodium. A little on the high side, but not problematic.
After about two thirds of the tin, I added a little Micro Pharms Crunchy Garlic Oil to the rest. It's not salty at all, and its crunchy bits are on the larger side as compared to most products of its type. I found it complemented the fish well.
Main Takeaways
- Tender and flavorful
- A tad salty, but not a deal breaker
- Vintage sardine flavor and texture
Buying an unknown brand can often be a crapshoot, but in this case it worked out very well.
Brand: Regalis Foods
Description: Baby sardines in olive oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Spain
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4 oz.
Price Range: $10