Reviews - Sardeenz!

Fishwife Mussels in Basil Pesto

These Fishwife Mussels in Basil Pesto were on sale at Whole Foods for $6.88 after Prime member discount. Seemed like a good opportunity to try them. I've already tried and reviewed the sweet pepper and garlic version.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

That's a lot of basil. The aroma is overwhelmingly of basil. The oil is tinged green from it. And a sip of the oil, yep, primarily basil.

Let's Eat

Rice didn't seem right for mussels, so I looked around and settled on some unseasoned ramen noodles, the closest thing to pasta on hand. I just dumped the entire contents over them. The heat of the noodles brought out the basil aroma even further.

Looking over it all, I counted 25 to 27 mussels, a generous portion.

Digging in, the mussels are firm enough. But I'm not really getting a sense of any flavors beyond shellfish and basil. The garlic is under-represented, and I thought they needed some salt. The label states 420mg. sodium, but it felt like far less.

Pesto by definition includes cheese, obviously absent in this scenario, so calling it that is taking some liberties. Cheese would have brought the needed salt, but I had none on hand to test. The label also states lemon juice, black pepper and oregano, but, as included, they stood no chance against the preponderance of basil.

Overall, I thought these were just OK as purchased. I'd get them again if on sale and I had a proper bowl of pasta and some shaved or grated Parmesan cheese on hand.

Main Takeaways

Firm, tasty mussels
Basil over-represented, other seasonings shut out
Needed salt
Good portion

Brand: Fishwife Tinned Seafood Co.
Description: Mussels in basil pesto
Species: Mussels N/S
Country of Origin: Chile / Spain (packed)
Source: Farmed (Chile)
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $7

Sultan Moroccan Sardines Boneless/Skinless in Olive Oil

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These Sultan Moroccan Sardines Boneless/Skinless in Olive Oil came from a Middle Eastern market from which I had previously obtained other Sultan varieties. Supply chain issues had briefly impacted their ability to stock the variety of tinned fish I'm used to finding there. As such, these were the only "new to me" selection available. Let's see how they are.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

They look about the same as most boneless skinless sardines, sort of a drab, pale color. There's a bit of a sulfurous odor, but it quickly dissipates. The oil, what there is of it, is similarly pale, almost clear. Unusual for olive oil. A sip of it has a subtle flinty, mineral note.

Let's Dig In

And by "dig in", I mean literally. They are packed in there tight, so much so I can't even get a count. I had to pry them out of the tin in chunks. There was so much fish in the can, there was barely any oil left after I got them all out.

The first bite was a disappointment. The fish is dry and a bit mealy. Perhaps some more oil and some less fish would have prevented this, I don't know. Continuing on, the flavor is bland and needs salt badly. Sodium is listed at a relatively low 240mg.

I was able to improve things a bit with some hot chili oil. It added flavor, salt and some needed moisture. So, not a total loss. Having said that, I think I will go back and get some more. They were quite the bargain at under $3 for a generous 4.41oz. portion that was 95% fish. That's a lot of protein for the money, tinned fish-wise. If the next can isn't any better on its own merits, I'll know how to deal with it.

Main Takeaways

Dry and a bit mealy
Bland and needed salt
Generous portion

Brand: Sultan
Description: Sardines boneless/skinless in olive oil
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.41 oz.
Price Range: $3

Nice Cans Smoked Sardines in Organic Olive Oil

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These Nice Cans Smoked Sardines in Organic Olive Oil were found, surprisingly, at a local chain supermarket location. Surprising in that they are considered a boutique label under the JOSE Gourmet brand, both under the umbrella of 100 Misterios. Their offerings consist of only three variations, these, a rosemary fennel and a tomato and pepper version. I already tried those and although the seasonings didn't blow me away, the sardines themselves were top notch. Let's see how these are.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

Skin is in reasonably decent shape. No scales or tails, but some pelvic fins. The oil is an amber color, perhaps darker than expected due to whatever process applied the smoke.

The aroma is smoky, masking any scent of the fish. A sip of the oil is similarly smoky.

Let's Eat

There are four medium-size pilchards total. They lifted from the tin intact and felt somewhat firm while doing so. Of the three or so tablespoons of oil remaining in the tin, I poured about half over everything.

The fish are nice and meaty. Not juicy by any means, but tender enough. The smoke flavor is pervasive but not overpowering. I didn't find it fatiguing on the palate as smoking sometimes can be. Nothing I could find on the carton specified how the smoke was applied.

Saltiness is just above average at 480mg. The full name of the product includes "and sea salt" so I suppose it's intentional. I didn't find it excessive.

These have crept up in price in the last 12 months from $10 to $11 or more online. It was therefore a both a shock and a welcome surprise to find them where I did for only $8. I should go back for more.

Main Takeaways

Firm, meaty fish
Flavorful smoke

Brand: 100 Misterios / Nice Cans
Description: Smoked sardines in organic olive oil and sea salt
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $8

Wild Planet Wild Smoked Pink Salmon (Updated)

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Officially described as Wild Planet Wild Smoked Pink Salmon in Extra Virgin Olive Oil. First foray into tinned salmon. I remember the tall round cans years ago from which my mother made salmon salad. It had the little cylindrical vertebrae bones in it that would just pulverize on contact, the only fish bones I wasn't afraid of getting stuck in my throat as a child. While boneless, this salmon is quite different from that in all other respects.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4/5.

I guess I was expecting more than I should have. I've seen those cans of really premium smoked salmon reviewed, and that stuff is amazing-looking. Of course, it also costs twice to three times as much.

This is boneless, but not skinless. It ended up being mostly skinless because most of the skin stuck to the bottom of the can when I pried it out.

The flavor is very smoke forward, almost to the point of overpowering the fish flavor. The package doesn't say if the fish is naturally wood smoked or artificially flavored. Ads claim it is wood-fire smoked.

We eat fresh, broiled salmon regularly, so the tougher texture of this was also comparatively surprising. I think I'll chalk this one up to experience, and maybe check into that more spendy one I've seen that I thought looked so appealing.

Main Takeaways

Smoke stronger than necessary
Superior to most supermarket varieties
Better versions far more costly

Package Update

Mid-2026 packaging refresh. Same UPC. Same look and flavor.

The old packaging said "Sustainably caught", and added "in Alaska" elsewhere on the carton. But then "Product of Latvia" seemed an odd disconnect. Shipping fish caught in the Northeast Pacific to the Northeast Atlantic for processing?

The new packaging now only says caught "in the North Pacific" which makes things a little more confusing, as the North Pacific is divided into two FAO areas. It also adds that the fish is smoked over Alder wood. Still a mystery is the shipping it to Latvia for canning part.

This review has been updated to reflect the new packaging and source clarification. A tasting of the product reveals it remains unchanged.

There is also this realization made while inspecting the package. The nutrition label claims 110 calories per 75gm. drained weight, however net weight is 110gm. That leaves 35gm. of olive oil. Nearly all edible oils are average 133 calories per 15gm. That means consuming the entire contents, and enjoying all that lovely EVOO nets you a heftier 420 calories per can. It also bumps the total fat from the net 4gm. to 39gm.

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Wild Smoked Pink Salmon in EVOO
Species: Oncorhynchus gorbuscha
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO67, 61?, North Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 3.9 oz.
Price Range: $5

King Oscar Mackerel Mediterranean Style

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This King Oscar Mackerel Mediterranean Style came from Walmart. The tinned fish selection there of late has been rather abysmal, Whether that's due to seasonality or tariffs, I don't know. I typically find King Oscar product satisfactory, so trying this one seemed like a safe choice.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The aroma of the seasonings hits you immediately. The scent of olives and herbes de Provence wafting over the smell of fresh mackerel.

A sip of the olive oil mirrors the aroma, the tin indicating the contents include both olive oil and EVOO. One of those, however, may just be what the olives came packed in.. The tin doesn't make a point of boasting about it.

Let's Eat

King Oscar mackerel is usually chunks of filet, not whole ones, and this tin is no exception. That's OK, it's the flavor that matters.

I dumped the contents, oil and all, over rice. It didn't end up being the most photogenic presentation. You can see the green and black olives, the flecks of red bell pepper, and a spatter of the herbs. This is boneless and skinless, so no issues there.

I found the olives to be the predominant flavor, but they didn't overpower the fish. The red bell pepper didn't bring much to the party, but the herbes de Provence showed up just enough to complement everything else without getting in the way of enjoying the intrinsic flavor of the fish. Good tinned mackerel is tender and buttery mild in flavor, and this KO is no exception.

Sodium hovers around average at 430mg. but it seemed like less. Perhaps the olives are to blame.

Main Takeways

Tender, mild flavor
Well-balanced seasonings

Brand: Tri-Union Seafoods / King Oscar
Description: Boneless skinless mackerel filet Mediterranean style
Species: North Atlantic mackerel
Country of Origin: Poland
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.05 oz.
Price Range: $3-4

Porthos Sardines in Hot Vegetable Oil

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These Porthos Sardines in Hot Vegetable Oil came with a recent order from International Loft. I've had other Porthos selections before, including a spiced variation I recall being quite pleased with. Let's try these.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

It's been a while since I opened a tin to find sardines this nice looking. The skin is in perfect shape, and I see no scales. The aroma is fresh, but I note nothing in the way of spice on the nose. A sip of the oil is clean tasting, but no chili heat to speak of. The oil has a coloration more like olive oil, but it is sunflower.

Let's Eat

We have four medium to large fish. There is sufficient headroom in the tin to lift them all out mostly intact. Probably four tablespoons of the oil remain in the can, and I poured about half over everything. There is one small, lone piri pepper.

Digging in, the fish are beautifully tender and moist, while at the same time satisfyingly meaty. They are devoid of scales, always a plus.

Still not getting anything in the way of heat, I guess the small pepper wasn't up to the task. The ingredients also list chili pepper flavoring, but I could see no visual evidence of it in the oil.

I also thought they lacked salt. Sodium is listed at an average 340mg. for the tin.

This would have been an outstanding tin of fish if not for the lack of promised pepper heat. Not sorry I tried them, but I think I'll stick to the spicy in olive oil version in the future.

Main Takeaways

Tender, moist, meaty fish
Chili heat AWOL
Needed some salt

Brand: Conservas Portugal Norte / Porthos
Description: Sardines in hot vegetable oil
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $6

Mabuti Sardines in Pure Olive Oil and Tomato Sauce

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These Mabuti Sardines in Pure Olive Oil and Tomato Sauce also came from International Loft. Based upon my experience with the spiced variety, I am hoping these will be as impressive, but there's an unexpected aspect to this tin I'm curious about. Time to find out.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

I'll cut right to the chase. The unusual thing about this tin is its date codes. The spiced variety I received at the same time was imprinted 145/25 and DEC/31/32. I took that to mean canned on the 145th day of 2025 (over a year ago) and an expiration date 7-ish years thereafter. But this tin had 014/22 and DEC/31/29. Again, a 7-plus year gap, but why are these more than three years older than the other? I decided to be optimistic and hope what I had in hand was potentially a vintage sardine experience.

Out of the unblemished wrapper, the tin was not rusty nor did it appear compromised in any way I could see. I forged ahead, and opened it. There was no suspicious aroma or appearance of degradation. In fact, they were not much different looking than almost any other tin of sardines in tomato sauce I've tried. Some loose skin like the other tin, but to a lesser extent. No scales apparent.

Let's See What We've Got Here

The sauce has a good bright color, with the appearance of crushed tomato in olive oil. A sip of it is somewhat bland, there being no additional seasoning to it other than salt.

In this case we have 6 fish as opposed to the 8 in the other tin, only mildly disappointing. Lifting them from the tin, they are not the "fall-apart-y" tender I was anticipating from the extra time in the can. I poured the remaining sauce over everything.

Digging in, they are still firm and have quite good sardine flavor that shines through the just-serviceable tomato sauce. I wouldn't characterize them as dry, but the moisture level I rate as acceptable. They're not too salty, despite the stated 500mg. sodium.

These pale in head-to-head comparison with the spiced version I received. That may or may not, however, have more to do with the three year difference in harvest and packing. Not the vintage experience the age might have implied, but then I wasn't paying for vintage sardines, either. My advice, if you order some, is stock up on the spiced and maybe try one can of these.

Main Takeaways

Good sardine flavor
Unremarkable tomato sauce
Not the vintage sardine experience cans of this age often exhibit

Brand: Pinhais/Mabuti
Description: Sardines in olive oil and tomato sauce
Species: Sardina pilchardus
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.17 oz.
Price Range: $6