I bought this Trader Joe's Skipjack Tuna Fillets hoping that somehow it might exceed the expectations one might have of regular supermarket variety canned skipjack tuna. The results were uneven.
Initial impression upon opening the can: 4.5/5.
This is an unusual can configuration for tuna. Normally, a premium tuna would be in a can shaped more like a regular sardine can. Or the even more-premium stuff in one of those oval cans. This can is more akin to the type for herring or kippers, just maybe a little deeper.
I could see the emphasis was on featuring some elongated pieces of fish. But the fancy can and cut of the fillets still couldn't overcome the fact that this was skipjack tuna. It had that, for lack of a better word, tinny taste. I call it that "tuna tang". The meat was a little dry as well. The label says salt added, but I thought it could have used a dash more. And I really didn't have an answer as to what I might add to elevate it beyond that. I added a dash of Salsa Espinaler knowing full well it wasn't going to help, and, as expected, it didn't.
I also found it perplexing that the label says "Product of Tunisia". That's on the Mediterranean, and that doesn't appear to be a fishing area native to skipjack tuna. Nonetheless, the Trader Joe's website confirms it to be the case.
Main Takeaways
- Oddly-shaped can for tuna
- A little dry and lacked salt
- Wishing it was yellowfin
Brand: Trader Joe's
Description: Skipjack Tuna Fillets in Olive Oil
Species: Skipjack
Country of Origin: Tunisia
Source: FAO?
Skin/Bones: No/No
Net Wt: 6 oz.
Price Range: $4