smoked Archives - Sardeenz!

Bar Harbor Natural Smoked Wild Kippers

These Bar Harbor Natural Smoked Wild Kippers came from Whole Foods, where they were on sale. Amazon Prime membership reduced the price even further, to $3.28.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

About as expected for kippers, aka kipper snacks. The aroma is both smoky and a little fishy, but not in a bad way. A sip of the salted packing water reveals the fish has imparted some flavor that gives the impression of a seafood broth. The bronze appearance confirms the claim of natural wood smoke. I see what appears to be bones protruding from the middle, but it turns out just to be a bit of fin.

Let's Eat

I'm able to coerce the entire contents out over rice in one big chunk. It's the typical four fillets, about 5 inches long each, skin on. Getting it all out of the tin in one piece meant the packing liquid all came out, too, but I had intended to pour some over the fish anyway.

The flavor is no surprise. Smoky, salty, mild fish. The salty packing liquid has kept the meat moist, or perhaps "made" it moist. This tin conforms to the usual form factor for herring. A little light at 6.7oz, but the drained weight is listed at the typical-for-herring 130gm, about two-thirds of the net weight.

Most tins like this are labeled as two servings, but this one calls it only one. I usually consume an entire can regardless, so it doesn't matter to me. It helps to be a little extra hungry.

Having said that, I need to find a different way to enjoy kippers/kipper snacks than just basically plain. Although I appreciate natural wood smoke whenever possible, in this case, it became a little fatiguing towards the end of the tin.

The salt level is listed as 364mg. for the entire can. That's about average, and I didn't find it to be a problem. A little extra saltiness is to be expected with kippered herring, though.

Well, that makes three cans of herring in a row, and I'll have to say the MW Polar Smoked Herring with Pepper was the all-around winner of the bunch. Now, to see what else is in the stash for next time.

Main Takeaways

Generous portion
Good smoke flavor, but a little fatiguing towards the end
Priced well, even not on sale

Brand: Bar Harbor Foods
Description: Natural smoked wild kippers
Species: Clupea harengus
Country of Origin: Latvia
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 6.7 oz.
Price Range: $4-5

MW Polar Smoked Herring with Pepper

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This MW Polar Smoked Herring with Pepper came from Walmart. I've been happy with other MW Polar tinned fish products do far, and hoped this one wouldn't be an exception. For $3.58 for a 7oz. tin, it was hard to pass up. Let's see how it tastes.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The appearance of the contents mirrors the representation of it on the can more closely than about any other I've seen to date. It's a generous portion. The meat has a bronze coloration suggesting natural smoke. The aroma is similarly smoky. Tiny bits of finely diced red pepper dot the surface of the fillets. A sip of the packing brine is broth-like and tinged with smoke flavor.

Let's Eat

The fillets lift out of the tin largely intact. On closer inspection, it's three fillets with skin on the bottom. There's a good deal of the broth/brine left in the tin, and I poured about half over the fish and rice. Net drained weight accounts for 130gm. of the 200gm. total.

The meat has a good smoke flavor, and the brine has kept it moist and juicy. The last ingredient on the list is beechwood smoke, and since I don't see a claim of natural smoking, I have to assume it's just an added flavoring. Nonetheless, it doesn't taste artificial or acrid, so that's a plus.

The pepper content appears confined to the red pepper and some paprika, but there is an impression of black pepper to the seasoning as well. The salt level is just right, coming in at 360mg. for the entire, two serving can.

Main Takeaways

Generous portion
Tender, juicy fish
Good smoke flavor

All things considered, a satisfying tin of smoked herring, seasoned well, and a bargain at under $4.

Brand: MW Polar
Description: Smoked herring with pepper
Species: Clupea harengus
Country of Origin: Germany
Source: FAO 27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/No
Net Wt: 7.05 oz.
Price Range: $3-4

Brunswick Sardines in Soybean Oil

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These Brunswick Sardines in Soybean Oil came from Walmart. A recent store reset moved the tinned fish to a different aisle. Store resets are usually when new items are slotted in, and I didn't remember seeing these there before. They may have been stocked previously, but the entire section at all three local Walmarts has been seriously neglected in recent months. This tin was the only one of its kind on the shelf. At $1.24, it was worth a try.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.

The aroma is fishy. Not in a terrible way, but a little stronger than that to which I am accustomed. I see no scales and just a few pelvic fins. The tin is non-specific as to species, and I'm not quite sure what these are. Product of Poland implies Baltic Sea, and by association would most likely mean sprats. But these don't look like sprats.

Digging In

I had already had lunch, but was eager to see what these were about. So, I instead chose to have them as a snack.

The first thing I noticed was how the flesh is pale, almost white, so no pilchards here. The first bite revealed a bit more. The meat is quite tender, with a mild flavor, so I'm now thinking herring. Usually, herring standing in for sardines is skinless boneless fillets from a much larger fish.

As I worked my way through the tin, I noted some of the individual fish differed texturally from the others. Some were a bit mushy, like overcooked catfish.

The smoke flavor is there, but it's not doing any great service to the fish. The soybean oil in this instance is also, well, just a bit meh... I also thought they could have used a bit more salt. If the nutritional information matches that of the Brunswick website, sodium is a moderate 340mg. The website also confirms the species as herring.

Overall, I don't feel too put out over spending the $1.24. At least you and I both now know what we're getting with this rather pedestrian tin of fish.

Main Takeaways

Mild, tender fish
Inconsistent texture
Smoke and salt lacking

Brand: Bumble Bee Seafoods/Brunswick
Description: Sardines in soybean oil
Species: Herring
Country of Origin: Poland
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 3.75 oz.
Price Range: $1-2

bettergoods Smoked Tuna with Rosemary

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This new bettergoods Smoked Tuna with Rosemary was purchased at Walmart at the same time as the new smoked rainbow trout. That one was very good, and I hoped this one would be as well. Same $4.97 price point and 4.41oz. portion.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.9/5.

The initial appearance isn't as appealing as the trout, bit I will give it points for being a solid hunk of tuna. The carton calls it "steak cut style", but the grain appears to be running contrary to that of a typical tuna steak. Nonetheless, it is a single, thick piece of tuna (take note, Natural Catch) with nothing hiding underneath.

The aroma is subtly smoky, as is a sip of the olive oil it's packed in. I don't see any rosemary leaves in the tin, and I don't get much of an impression of it from either the aroma or the taste of the oil. I would have expected it to be prominent.

Let's Eat

I was able to lift the "steak" from the tin intact. It is a firm piece of meat. After a nibble of the fish, I decided it would be prudent to pour most of the remaining oil over the fish, in hopes of maximizing any flavor of the seasonings. White pepper, black pepper, garlic, salt and "citric acid anhydrous" round out the ingredient list. Although it doesn't taste that salty, sodium is a whopping 920mg.

The meat is quite firm and resists being divided by a piercing fork. It does, however, flake when the fork hits the right places. It also feels a little dry, but I chalk that up to being smoked over actual hardwood, which has the same effect on much fattier salmon. Here, the meat is leaner to begin with, so pouring that packing oil over it was helpful.

Although not overstated, the smoke is the majority of what I'm getting. That and a note of tuna "tang". The tuna is yellowfin, so I'm not sure if that tang isn't really coming from the citric acid powder.

Once again, the carton says "naturally smoked with oakwood, and finished with rosemary for a fresh, herbaceous twist". I perceived a contribution from the trout's juniper berry, but here the rosemary seems lost under the smoke.

Main Takeaways

Nice solid chunk of tuna
Smoke not overpowering but dominates
Rosemary lost in the smoke

I had hoped this one would be as good as the trout, but it wasn't quite. Kudos, though, for it being solid tuna and MSC certified sustainable.

Brand: Walmart / bettergoods
Description: Smoked tuna with rosemary
Species: Yellowfin
Country of Origin: Turkey
Source: FAO51
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.41 oz.
Price Range: $5

bettergoods Smoked Rainbow Trout with Juniper Berry

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I stumbled across this bettergoods Smoked Rainbow Trout with Juniper Berry at Walmart today. New items tend to show up after a store reset, when it's easier for a retailer to allocate shelf space for them. For those unfamiliar, bettergoods is a Walmart house brand positioned as a cut above others like their generic Great Value. For $4.97, it seemed like a no brainer.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

That's a nice piece of trout. Not skimpy on the seasonings, either. The immediate aroma is smoky, as is a sip of the olive oil.

Time For Some Trout

The filet is wedged in tight, so an edge had to be sacrificed to get it out in relatively one piece. It's a firm chunk of fish.

There was a good bit of oil left in the tin, and I poured about half over everything.

A taste of the fish is encouraging. The smoke is just right, the carton says "naturally smoked with oakwood and finished with juniper berries for a fresh, herbaceous flavor twist". So now I'm not sure if juniper berries are an ingredient as the front of the carton implies (or as I infer), or if they're part of the smoking process. Either way, they're contributing something subtle that's elevating the trout above just hardwood smoked.

Trout is a lean fish, so I ended up adding a little more of the packing oil to moisten things up a bit. That's not to say the fish was dry, just that that's how trout is. The meat is firm, but flakes easily.

It's not very salty, the carton lists a low 240mg. sodium, and that's fine. In addition to black pepper, sugar is also listed, but I get no sense of sweetness. Also, juniper berry is listed as the last ingredient, so now I'm even more confused as to whether it's part of the smoke, the seasoning, or both.

Main Takeaways

Firm, meaty trout
Well-balanced smoke and seasonings
Generous portion, priced right

No artificial preservatives, no additives, ASC certified, there's a lot to like here. They also have a smoked tuna "steak cut style" seasoned with rosemary that I'm eager to try next.

Brand: Walmart / bettergoods
Description: Smoked trout with juniper berries
Species: Oncorhychus mykiss
Country of Origin: Turkey
Source: Farmed
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.41 oz.
Price Range: $5

Patagonia Provisions Smoked Jack Mackerel

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This Patagonia Provisions Smoked Jack Mackerel is a new item for the company. They already had a smoked mackerel, but this one comes with a story. You may have read recently (early 2026) about the ongoing issue in North Atlantic waters regarding the potential overfishing of mackerel. Global warming has driven stocks of the fish northward to cooler waters, leaving fishermen off the EU and the UK with difficulty making quotas. As a result, Patagonia has moved to sourcing their mackerel from Chile, where the species of mackerel there has managed to rebound from overfishing in the 1990s. Let's try this new offering.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 5/5.

Some beautiful fillets. The initial aroma is tuna-like, but dissipates quickly. The oil, organic EVOO, is a light golden color. A sip of the oil initially tastes like there might be some spice involved, but the ingredients list none. On the finish, it reveals the subtle undertone of the wood smoke.

Time To Eat

It takes a bit of effort to pry the fish from the tin, it's packed in tightly. It looks like three substantial fillets. There's a couple of tablespoons of oil left in the tin, and I'm not letting it go to waste.

An initial bite is somewhat reminiscent of tuna, but with a more satisfying, meatier chew. The package says "use like tuna", but I'm thinking "use like chicken, too". And that's probably because the smoke and texture are giving me charcoal-grilled chicken vibes. I'm impressed by the level of restraint on the smoke, it's just as much as it needs to be, and not one bit more.

The meat is quite rich, and I could agree with the carton calling it two servings. But, of course, I ate the whole thing myself. The good news is that, compared to the old smoked mackerel, for the same serving size, this one has 50 fewer calories (170 vs. 220) and 7 gm. less total fat. So, other than a higher price, this one's a win, nutritionally speaking.

I got this tin from Whole Foods. My usual online sources don't seem to have it stocked yet. Once this one gets fully established in the marketplace, I'm hoping we'll see it on sale from time to time. I'll be going back for more.

Main Takeaways

Rich, meaty fish
Subtle level of smoke
Generous portion

Brand: Patagonia Provisions
Description: Smoked jack mackerel
Species: N/S (Trachurus sp?)
Country of Origin: Chile (processed in Spain)
Source: FAO87, Southeast Pacific
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $8-9

MW Polar Fancy Whole Smoked Oysters

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I picked these MW Polar Fancy Whole Smoked Oysters up at a local supermarket months ago. I bought them mainly for two reasons: I hadn't tried this brand's smoked oysters yet, and they were relatively cheap. I've always been satisfied with MW Polar tinned seafood products, having had their kipper snacks and smoked sprats. At $1.79, I could afford to be curious.

Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.8/5.

The aroma when cracking the lid was about as expected: a typical but light smokiness. They appear nicely packed, and whole, as noted on the carton. The "fancy" is just marketing. Size-wise, they are about average. There appears to be about twenty in there. A sip of the oil, cottonseed as is typical of Chinese smoked oysters, doesn't really echo anything in the way of smokiness.

Snack Time

I'd already had a small lunch, but was still a little hungry, so having these as a snack seemed like a good way to solve that.

Texturally, they are pretty much the usual: half meaty/half mealy. The flavor is not really any different from a half dozen similar others I've tried. If anything, they are less smoky-tasting, even though the carton touts them as being naturally wood smoked. A little more salt might have been welcome, as they contained a moderately low 230mg. sodium.

Main Takeaways

Typical canned smoked oysters
Subtle level of smoke

I'll continue my search for a relatively inexpensive tin of smoked oysters that makes me forget about the rest. Thankfully, it's a good thing I'm not in a hurry.

Brand: MW Polar
Description: Smoked oysters in cottonseed oil
Species: N/S
Country of Origin: China
Source: Farmed
Skin/Bones: N/A
Net Wt: 3.0 oz.
Price Range: $1-2