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Published on Leave a comment on Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines Revisited

I tasted these Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines a while ago, and expressed my intention to revisit them at some point. They are on sale at Whole Foods right now, so this seemed an opportune time to do so.

Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines carton
Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: Same as last time.

10 fish on top with six more underneath. As you may recall, these are not smoked. Just sardines (sprats), EVOO and salt. The first time around, although I thought they were some quality sprats, I found them a little bland. I tried perking them up with a little Salsa Espinaler, but found it to be a little too much.

I theorized back then that just a little fresh-squeezed lemon juice might be the ticket, and I was correct. Rather than mask the intrinsic flavor of the fish, the lemon juice complemented it. And it didn't take much, less than a quarter of the lemon's juice for the entire can. Really good.

Main Takeaways
  • Still a good quality sprat
  • Plenty of fish in the can
  • Lemon juice just what they needed to brighten them up

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Bar Harbor Foods
Description: Wild Petite Sardines in EVOO
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5-6

Published on Leave a comment on Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines in EVOO

I got these Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines on sale at Whole Foods. They were intriguing because, as sprats in a round can like this go, they were not smoked. As such, I expected a more premium experience.

Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines package
Bar Harbor Wild Petite Sardines open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

Nicer presentation than in the stock photo of the package. An oddly bland aroma, which I attributed to the lack of smoke. There are ten fish and a fraction visible in the top layer, with 6 more beneath.

The fish are very tender, the flavor mild, the texture buttery. As for the EVOO, it was neutral, not really adding anything. The tails are mostly removed, an acknowledgement of the prickliness often found in Latvian sprats.

But, as with the aroma, the taste was a bit bland. These might be the brisling purist's cup of tea, but I thought they needed a little kick. A little Salsa Espinaler did the trick. But, in retrospect, I think just a squeeze of fresh lemon juice might be the perfect balance between purist bland and the want of a little zest. If I catch these on sale again, that's how I will revisit them.

Main Takeaways
  • Unsmoked sprats?
  • Great texture and flavor, but still kind of bland
  • Needed something to brighten things up

See it at Amazon.

Brand: Bar Harbor Foods
Description: Wild Petite Sardines in EVOO
Species: Sprattus sprattus
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5