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Published on Leave a comment on Sea Tales Sardines in Water Revisited

These Sea Tales Sardines in Water were the second of two cans I found at Home Goods. The first can was a huge disappointment, I was barely able to finish it, and I considered not even opening this one.

Sea Tales Sardines in Water wrapper
Sea Tales Sardines in Water open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: Still meh...

Still really roughed-up looking. Still three to the can. But I have a plan this time. And it's not so much a re-visit as it is a salvage operation.

Let's Doctor Things Up a Bit

I learned early on from watching online tinned fish reviewer videos that certain condiments can save the day when it comes to a lackluster can of sardines. Chief among them are various hot sauces, Salsa Espinaler, and chili crisp.

I hadn't heard of chili crisp before, but after trying a few (OK, more than a few), it became a new obsession.

For the purposes of this experiment, I first seasoned up the rice with some soy & sesame sauce in a packet I had left over from a Trader Joe's Asian-style noodle product.

For the chili crisp, I chose a particularly bold variation from a brand called ChuanNan. Its label indicates it's "great with rice" and "fragrant". Chili crisp is as much about texture as it is heat and flavor. This one contains peanuts, crunchy peas and sesame seeds, plus a fair amount of Sichuan pepper heat. My assumption is that when a culture eats as much rice as is consumed in Asian countries, anything to liven up its soft texture and inherently bland taste is a welcome addition.

Although it all did much to improve the otherwise unimpressive fish, upon reflection, I may have overdone things a bit. I should have backed off the soy & sesame sauce as, together with the chili crisp, it made things perhaps a bit too salty. If you remember my first tin of this selection, I was wishing for some more salt. I should have been more careful here.

But all in all, it didn't totally ruin things, and I found a way to improve an otherwise boring tin of fish. Still a win.

Main Takeaways
  • Added saltiness improved things
  • Still visually unappealing
  • Probably should have used less soy sesame sauce

Brand: Sea Tales
Description: Sardines in water
Species: Pilchards
Country of Origin: Portugal
Source: FAO27, Northeast Atlantic
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.2 oz.
Price Range: $5-6

Published on Leave a comment on Wild Planet Wild Sardines in Water

These Wild Planet Wild Sardines in Water came in a 3-pack from Whole Foods. They were inexpensive enough, about $3 per can when not on sale. I figured little to lose at the just under $7 sale price.

Wild Planet Wild Sardines in Water carton
Wild Planet Wild Sardines in Water open can
Initial impression upon opening the can: 3/5.

I really need to start paying better attention to labeling on the package, and less to just the price. I again overlooked the fact that these are not Eastern Atlantic pilchards, but instead Northern Pacific Sardinops sp. There are four in the can.

The aroma from the can is underwhelming, kind of aquarium fishy. I tasted a sip of the water apprehensively. Blah... They do have a reasonably nice appearance, though, for what they are.

Forging Ahead

They are tender, and fall apart somewhat readily when trying to lift them from the can. Not quite the "firm meaty texture". A taste of the fish is also underwhelming, bland. The package calls it "rich mild flavor". I note I also overlooked (or ignored) the "no salt added" on the carton. It should just say "no salt", even if the sodium is 70mg. It really tasted like no salt at all. On the upside, there are no scales, as the package proudly notes.

A little dash of hot sauce didn't help. Putting them on a saltine cracker only made them taste like cracker. Sigh... Now I have two more cans I don't know what to do with. I suppose I'll need to come up with something to hide these in so that I can at least benefit from the protein and Omega-3 content.

Main Takeaways
  • Inexpensive
  • Why can't these be pilchards?
  • Needed salt, badly
  • Note to self: Stop buying sardines in water

It's a shame these were so disappointing. Some Wild Planet selections I've found quite pleasant, others not so much.

I noted an observation made in a recent review by Canned Fish Files, one with which I concur. Plain Pacific sardines just don't taste as good as the pilchards from the Eastern Atlantic. At least not to those whose palate is accustomed or attuned to the latter. Perhaps it's telling, though, that you rarely if ever see Asian brands packing sardines from that region without some sauce or cooking technique, like miso paste or kabayaki.

Follow Up

I ended up putting the content of both the remaining cans, sans the water, over rice, and liberally dousing them with some Lao Gan Ma Fried Chili in Oil. Its heat, umami and salt made up for the blandness of the fish. So not all was lost.

Brand: Wild Planet
Description: Sardines in Water
Species: Sardinops sagax or melanostictus
Country of Origin: Thailand
Source: FAO61, Northwest Pacific
Skin/Bones: Yes/Yes
Net Wt: 4.4 oz.
Price Range: $3