VITAL CHOICE- 100

VITAL CHOICE: IN ORGANIC OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. two to the tin.
Calories- 140
Fat Calories- 80
Total Fat- 9g
Sat Fat- 2g
Cholesterol- 45mg
Sodium- 180mg
Protein- 14g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal


INGREDIENTS:
Sardines,Organic Extra virgin Olive Oil, Natural Sea Salt


PRICE:
Thank you Sardine eater Gina.

OVER ALL:
A very faint oil/fish aroma upon opening. Three plump fish to the tin, scales are in patches.. A roe filled fish; Roe is slightly mealy, unnoticeable with crackers.  A clean tasting fish. No fishy taste or after taste. Oil taste is very subtle and almost hidden. A meaty, tender fish. I would eat again.
4 1/2 sardines

VITAL CHOICE:

 APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. 1 to the tin.
Calories- 360
Fat Calories- 280
Total Fat- 31g
Sat Fat- 6g
Cholesterol- 95mg
Sodium- 350mg
Protein- 19g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Portuguese Sardines,Organic Extra virgin Olive Oil, Red Chili, Natural Sea Salt


PRICE:


OVER ALL:
A spicy oil aroma hits you upon opening. Three plump fish to the tin. A firm textured fish, pepper flavor is present and welcoming. A mild heat is present, A roe filled fish;roe not noticeable. No strong fishy taste or after. A flavorful tin of fish. 5 Sardines.

VITAL CHOICE:

 APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. 1 to the tin.
Calories- 180
Fat Calories- 100
Total Fat- 11g
Sat Fat- 3.5g
Cholesterol- 95mg
Sodium- 55mg
Protein- 19g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Portuguese Sardines, Purified Water


PRICE:


OVER ALL:
Three plump fish to the tin. No noticeable aroma upon opening. A meaty fish, fish does posses a tuna quality and texture to it. Not a spiny fish. No strong flavors or after. Scales not noticeable. Fish does not posses much flavor on their own, would be perfect for a sandwich, salad, etc. 4 Sardines. 

VITAL CHOICE:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. 1 to the tin.
Calories- 190
Fat Calories- 110
Total Fat- 12g
Sat Fat- 3.5g
Cholesterol- 95mg
Sodium- 250mg
Protein- 19g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Portuguese Sardines,Organic Tomato Paste, Water, Organic Extra virgin Olive Oil,  Natural Sea Salt


PRICE:


OVER ALL:
Three plump fish to the tin; A faint tomato aroma upon opening. A mild tomato sauce, tomato flavor hits you on first bite, a deep tomato flavor. A firm textured fish. Not a spiny fish. No fishy taste or after. A clean tasting tin of fish. 4 1/2 sardines.

VITAL CHOICE:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. 1 to the tin.
Calories- 226
Fat Calories- 129
Total Fat- 15g
Sat Fat- 3g
Cholesterol- 73mg
Sodium- 290mg
Protein- 23g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Portuguese Sardines, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Red Chili, Natural Sea Salt


PRICE:


OVER ALL:
A faint oil aroma upon opening, Five fillets to the tin. A beautiful golden hue. A medium textured fish; A clean tasting fish. Heat is evenly distributed through out all the fillets.You almost want to drink the oil. No fishy taste or after. Tin leaves you wanting more. The only reason you would want bread with this tin, is to soak up the spicy oil. 5 Sardines

VITAL CHOICE:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. 1 to the tin.
Calories- 178
Fat Calories- 87
Total Fat- 10g
Sat Fat- 2g
Cholesterol- 63mg
Sodium- 73mg
Protein- 23g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Portuguese Sardines, Purified Water



PRICE:


OVER ALL:
A faint, almost undetectable fish aroma upon opening. Six fillets to the tin.A firm fish, no strong flavor present. A clean tasting fish. Fish would be good in any dish, it would take on any flavor you added to it. A tad on the dry side. 4 Sardines.

VITAL CHOICE:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. 1 to the tin.
Calories- 194
Fat Calories- 102
Total Fat- 11g
Sat Fat- 3g
Cholesterol- 55mg
Sodium- 247mg
Protein- 23g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Portuguese Sardines, Organic Tomato Paste, Water, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Natural Sea Salt



PRICE:


OVER ALL:
No aroma upon opening. Six fillets to the tin. A firm textured fish, sauce has a wang to it on the first bite; followed by a deep tomato flavor. No strong flavors or after taste. 4 1/2 Sardines.

VITAL CHOICE:

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:

Per serving. 1 to the tin.
Calories- 226
Fat Calories- 129
Total Fat- 15g
Sat Fat- 3g
Cholesterol- 73mg
Sodium- 290mg
Protein- 23g


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Portuguese Sardines,Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Natural Sea Salt



PRICE:


OVER ALL:
A faint oil aroma upon opening. Five fillets to the tin. Fillets still posses their skin. Fish have more of a chewy consistency to it, yet not tough. A faint green flavor from the oil hits you on first bite (quickly disappears) A firm fillet. No strong flavors or after. 4 1/2 Sardines.

VASCO DA GAMA-99

VASCO DA GAMA: IN VEGETABLE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Protein: 20,6g
Energy: 1260kj/304kcal



PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Vegetable Oil, Salt

PRICE:

OVER ALL:
A faint oil aroma upon opening.. Six scaled fish to the tin. Scales are noticeable  A bitter tasting fish. A slight fishy taste; Not spiny; a roe filled fish along with other innards delicacies, which adds to the bitterness. Would not eat again. No sardines.




VASCO DA GAMA: IN HOT SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Protein: 22,7g
Energy: : 956kj/229kcal



PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Vegetable Oil, Spices,Salt

PRICE:

OVER ALL:
A very faint fish aroma upon opening. Six, scaled fish to the tin. Scales are noticeable,  the salt is prominent in this tin. A sour after taste. The heat is very weak, almost undetectable. A roe filled fish. Fish crumbles while removing from tin. Would not eat again. No sardines




VASCO DA GAMA- IN HOT TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Protein: 20,8g
Energetico: 838kj/201kcal


PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines,  Tomato,Vegetable Oil, Spices, Salt

PRICE:

OVER ALL:
Five scaled fish to the tin. Scales not noticeable  a very watery tasting sauce, heat was not noticeable  A very strong sour taste, after taste. A nice green undigested innards runs out of fish. (source of sourness) not a spiny fish. I would not eat again. No sardines.






VASCO DA GAMA: IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Protein: 20,1g
Energy: : 764kj/203kcal



PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines,  Tomato,Vegetable Oil, Salt

PRICE:

OVER ALL:
A sweat tomato aroma upon opening. Three scaleless fish to the tin. A meaty fish; sweat tasting fish. The fish are a little on the chewy side. Not a spiny fish;all innards still present. I would not eat again. No sardines.

The Burial of The Sardine

Francisco Goya - The Burial of the Sardine

One of the many things I enjoy  about sardines are the traditions and customs that are held by so many different cultures. While Ambrosia may be held as the food of the Gods, sardines could be said to be the food of men. Sardines can be enjoyed by all, no matter locale, race, finance-- it's truly a food for all.

One such tradition is El  Entirrro de la Sardina (The Burial of The Sardine),  a Spanish tradition of burying or burning a fish. A sardine at that! 

The ceremony of the burial of the sardine is usually a mock burial procession through town while an effigy of a sardine or real sardine is carried for all to see and mourn, in a real or make shift coffin. People dressed in costumes and mourning attire fill the streets, with fake screams and weeping. The location of the town often times seals the fate of the Sardine. Those next to shorelines burn the sardine and then throw the ashes into the sea.  The town's people some times even carry the ashes out to be scattered into the sea symbolizing the sardine's return home. In landlocked towns, the sardine is often times buried. (Burn and bury is practiced the same despite location.) These ceremonies are often times followed by large displays of fireworks, representing the end of Carnival. In some areas the celebration is held on Ash Wednesday, yet in other towns this ceremony takes place the first Saturday after Easter.

Like most traditions, no one can truly lay claim to the origin of it. There are many explanations.

1. The event goes back to pre-Christian times. It is a pagan fertility custom symbolizing the burial of winter in early spring; spring awakes and brings a new year of life to nature. It is the symbolic burial of the past to allow society to be reborn, transformed and with new vigor. (The burning of the dead was not allowed by Christians in ancient times because it was seen as strictly a pagan practice and was even made illegal by the church. Burning the sardine would have came from pagan roots).

2. In the 18th century, Charles III (king of Spain) wanted to celebrate the end of Carnival with the commoners. He ordered sardines, but when the shipment arrived, all the sardines were spoiled. The people buried the sardines due to the odor. The commoners mourned the thought of burying free food. Another version has it that the sardines that came in for Lent were spoiled, and that King Charles III, irate that they were spoiled, had them buried/burned. This morphed into a tradition of burying of the sardine.

3. A breed of pig called "sardine" was buried, which represented Sin and symbolized the excesses during Carnival; burial of a pig in representation of the meat Catholics would have to forfeit eating during the religious observation period.

4. People could not eat meat during Lent; they ate fish during Lent. When Lent and Easter finished, they gave a big party where they burned a sardine as a sign that they didn't have to eat more fish. They were free to eat meat again.

5. The custom symbolizes the burial of worldly pleasures and serves as a reminder that people must abstain from eating meat on Fridays throughout the 40 days of Lent; it's a symbol to celebrate the end of eating so much fish; it symbolizes abstinence and fasting; it represents the Catholic repentance at the pagan excesses of the Carnival; a sardine is buried to bring luck to all the fisherman who will be catching and supplying fish to everyone during the 40 days of meatless Lent.

6. It only dates back to 1850, when a group of students decided to form an entourage presided over by a sardine, symbolizing fasting and abstinence, after Carnival.This celebration is held all over Spain, in many different styles and for many different reasons, yet the sardine remains the center of attention.

Just before Ash Wednesday I attended a community function where we built bee houses for our local native bee population. I figured this would be a good time to do a Burial of the Sardines ceremony, (since we were doing a community project and all) So, in Mouth Full of Sardines fashion, I give you the Burial of the Sardines.

 The tin of fish, resting upon its velvet,  sitting on its brass tray, waiting for the burial.

Our procession, led by Raven, was started off in a "Wicker Man" fashion. Kathleen runs over and grabs large bamboo poles for the procession. 

Bamboo fronds and large bamboo poles are our make- shift burial flags.

To represent burying the winter for a new spring, we have winter and a little spring carrying the sardines.

And the Sardine march continues....

Eric proudly carries his pole.

The tin made it to its destination....

We passed the tin around, telling the fish what we would like to change, get rid of, and to start anew.

Tony gazes upon the tin of fish.
I don't think Kathleen is a sardine eater (or Tony).

As the tin went around




















Eric taking a big whiff of the badly smoked tin of fish.

This is the tin we
buried and burned, bad smoke flavoring and all.

* Contest *  If you can identify this tin of fish from the blog, I will send you a variety trio of assorted tins.  Just place guesses in the comment section below.  (None will be this nasty tin.) 

  We buried the fish in some leaves.

Stewart was more than eager to light the ceremonial Sardine fire.

Ah, now the sardines are truly smoked. They were paraded, passed around, buried and burned.

Perhaps I need to write up a sardine song for everyone to sing as the sardines burn. Next year, next year...

 The sardine ceremony was concluded by drinking and libating wine....

A big thank you to every one who participated in the burial of the sardine ceremony. No one called me crazy.  I believe some non-sardine eaters gained some respect for the sardine. Next year, the ceremony could take place at a community project near you.

If there are any sardine eaters that are musically inclined, feel free to send in your sardine burial songs for next year's ceremony.  If we receive 50 songs, we'll sing 50 songs at next year's burial.