I have seen favorable reviews of this lately, and decided to give it my own assessment. This Season Grilled Mackerel in 100% Olive Oil is widely available, typically seen sold alongside other Season Brand tinned fish products in supermarkets and mass retailers.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.
Tinned mackerel usually isn't very photogenic unless it's been neatly sliced before packing. Here we have three can-filling fillets, more like bars of fish. Better than the amorphous chunks of some more recent mackerel tastings, though. The aroma is pleasantly fishy, not off-putting. The oil has a clean, neutral taste. The grill marks are hard to discern if they're genuine or applied artificially.
The taste is reminiscent of a mild tuna. But the texture is more firm, meatier. If actually grilled, the process doesn't seem to have added anything in the way of flavor that one might expect. I applied a little Salsa Espinaler to add some seasoning, but was undecided as to whether it was an improvement.
The "new look" carton is chock full of information. Species, catch area, country of origin, nutrition facts are all there.
Overall, this was good. If you'd like a canned fish that's less fishy-tasting than inexpensive tuna at a reasonable price, mackerel is a choice worth investigating. For under $3, I'd buy it again.
Main Takeaways
- Nice filets
- Whether the grilling is genuine or added anything is uncertain
- Refreshing alternative to tuna at a bargain price
Brand: Season Brand, LLC
Description: Grilled Mackerel in 100% Olive Oil
Species: Scomber colias
Country of Origin: Morocco
Source: FAO34, Eastern Central Atlantic
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.375 oz.
Price Range: $3