I was at Whole Foods stocking upon some Wild Planet selections while they were still on sale when I noticed these Henry & Lisa's Wild Sardines in Spring Water. They weren't on sale, but I figured if Whole Foods stocked them, they must be okay. At just under $4, I decided to try them out.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4/5.
Not the prettiest fish. Ragged skin and more than a few scales. Very faint fish aroma. Three big pilchards stuffed in to the can. The meat is firm and mild in flavor. Bigger fish, however, means a bigger, crunchy spine, if that's your thing. I've often noted my preference for slightly smaller pilchards, which tend to be more tender, and the flavor more delicate.
I approached this can with some level of apprehension. I'm accustomed to sardines packed in oil, and feared the spring water packing might detract from the experience in some way. Quite frankly, I could barely tell it wasn't packed in oil. And that's just probably because so many cans that say packed "in oil" should really say "with oil".
Main Takeaways
- Bigger fish than preferred
- Tender, mild meat
- No watery impression
This brand also sells sardines packed in EVOO. They also have a couple of different Alaskan salmon which retail at WF in the $7 range.
They've recently updated their packaging with more eye-catching graphics. That and a quirky vibe seem to be all the rage with premium tinned fish marketing departments these days.
Brand: EcoFish, Inc. / Henry & Lisa's
Description: Sardines in spring water
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.25 oz.
Price Range: $3-4