POLSKI SMAK -120

POLSKI SMAK- FILLETS IN OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Serving:2
Calories- 121
Fat Cal- 68
Sat Fat- 1g
Total Fat- 10gProtein- 13g
Sodium- 309mg
Cholest.- 43mg

PRODUCT OF:
Poland


INGREDIENTS:
Sardine fillets, Vegetable Oil, (rape or Sunflower) Salt

PRICE:
A huge thank you to Sardine eater, Julanta, for these tins


OVERALL:
Oil aroma upon opening, one large piece of fish with a small piece. A moist fish, a slight fishy taste and after. Oil does not over the fish. Fish has a good texture holds its shape well. I may eat again. 3 Sardines.

POLSKI SMAK- FILLETS IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Serving:2
Calories- 89
Fat Cal- 49
Sat Fat- 1g
Total Fat- 5g
Protein- 13g
Sodium- 192mg
Cholest.- 41mg

PRODUCT OF:
Poland


INGREDIENTS:
Sardine fillets, Tomato Sauce, Water, Tomato paste, Sugar, Modified Food Starch, Salt, Vinegar, Wheat flour,  Vegetable Oil, (rape or Sunflower), Fiber, Thickener (guar gum), Spices

PRICE:
A huge thank you to Sardine eater, Julanta, for these tins


OVERALL:

A very subtle tomato aroma upon opening. Two large pieces of fish to the tin. There was a very sweet tomato taste on the first bite, followed by a sour, almost bitter after taste. The texture is slightly chewy. A fishy taste and after. I would not eat again, alone. 1/2 sardine

National Sardines Day 2013

Happy National Sardines Day, all you sardine eaters! 

What are your plans for National Sardines Day? Eating exotic tins, a favorite tin perhaps, venturing out to an unknown tin? 

In honor of National Sardines Day and the generous sardine eaters I've met this year, I've decided to give sardines. I purchased 24 tins of "Nice" brand sardines and donated them to our local food bank.  

Since most people's first sardine memory is eating a tin with their father or grandfather, share a tin today with someone and create a fond memory for someone . Just receiving a free tin could brighten someone's day.

Wishing everyone a great National Sardines Day!

BON APPETIT- 119

BON APPETIT: IN OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 120
Fat- 70
Total Fat- 7g
Sat Fat- 2g
Cholesterol- 20mg
Sodium- 300mg
Protein- 12g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:
1.99



OVERALL:
A faint oil, sardine aroma upon opening. Two large fish to the tin. A very meaty fish; a mild-tasting fish; no fishy taste or after taste. A tad spiny. A firm-textured fish. Even being large fish, the flavor is good. I would eat again, 5 sardines.
                





BON APPETIT: SKINLESS & BONELESS IN OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 120
Fat- 70
Total Fat- 7g
Sat Fat- 3,0g
Cholesterol- 20mg
Sodium- 0,3g
Protein- 12g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:
1.99




OVERALL:

A very faint oil aroma upon opening. A juicy sardine, not dry as most S&B sardines are. (these are skinless, not boneless) salt is very prominent in this tin. A flavorful fish, very mild. No fishy taste or after. A good textured fish, not rubbery, nor soft. I would eat again.
         

     





BON APPETIT: IN HOT TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 120
Fat- 20
Total Fat- 5g
Sat Fat- 1g
Cholesterol- 10mg
Sodium- 240mg
Protein- 13g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato, Vegetable Oil, Chilli Pepper

PRICE:
1.99




OVERALL:
No strong aroma upon opening. A very subtle tomato aroma. Three fish to the tin. A very meaty fish, tomato sauce has a faint tart taste on the first bite. Not a spiny fish. The sauce blends well with the fish. No fishy taste or after. I would eat again. 5 sardines.

BON APPETIT: IN HOT SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 120
Fat- 20
Total Fat- 5g
Sat Fat- 1g
Cholesterol- 10mg
Sodium- 240mg
Protein- 13g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Vegetable oil, Chilli

PRICE:
1.99



OVERALL:
A faint sardine and oil aroma upon opening. Three large, scaled fish to the tin. A very mild-tasting fish. Scales are not noticeable. Two nice-sized chillis in the tin; adds a nice, even, subtle heat to the fish. Not a spiny fish. They are a roe-filled fish; roe not detectable. They possess a medium texture; they hold their shape well. A flavorful tin of fish. I will eat again. 5 Sardines.

Vintage 32 year old tin...

Aged sardines

 Most sardines for sale here in the States are a couple of months old at best, if even that. The French are into aging their sardines like a good wine. Aging does show in the flavor and taste of the fish. Here's a great site, "Sardine Pirates," should you not be able to find French sardines. 
I've had four year- and eight year- old tins of fish before. When I came across this vintage tin of 32 years, I knew I had to try it(even knowing it was not aged properly).

This tin was packaged in Portugal in January of 1981, and it was exported to France, where it stayed until it was shipped here to the States after I acquired them. The"best by date" is Sept. of 1986; they sold the tin to me as a collector item only and not for consumption. Inspecting the tin, there was no tin swelling or any signs of seal breakage; I knew I would eat these. 

Being a vintage tin, naturally, they required a key that did not accompany this tin. With no key on hand, I decided to enter the tin from the bottom. With a can opener and knife in tow, I was finally able to free these fish. I was expecting a can of mush or worse. A faint sardine aroma was very prominent upon opening the tin. I dumped the fish onto a plate. They were very firm and held together. There was only maybe a tablespoon or two of oil present. The inside of the actual tin itself looked good: a thick metal tin.  

Slowly breaking the cluster of fish apart to get a better look, none of the fish fell apart or turned to goo.

I pondered on what to eat with these vintage treats--aged cheese, pickled sides of sorts, etc. I decided on my norm: beer and crackers. I did use ale and a fancy cracker. 

My first bite was (I was expecting the worse, sourness, mush, bitterness, instant death- nothing-)a very mild, firm-textured fish, yes firm... To be this old and to possess a better texture than most present-day tins of fish is really sad. (They don't make them like they used to). The oil was really mellow and thick. The fish did possess a very faint tin after taste, possibly from not being aged properly and being turned periodically. There were six uniformed size fish to the tin; all six had the same consistency. They were firm-textured fish. While eating, bones were not detectable at all. The fish was dense in texture, as well.

A truly unique tin of fish. The flavor of the fish was not a fish one, but a deep nutty, almost sweet flavor. In the end, I would eat these again. At $53, I feel I got an excellent deal. 

I would like to thank all the sardine eaters out there who messaged me their concerns and well wishes, while my family and friends only informed me, "it was nice knowing you."

While a 32-year-old tin of fish may not be your thing, if you have never tried aged sardines, you owe it to yourself to pick up and try a tin. Or, age your own. Age a tin for a year or two, and check out the difference. Olive oil is the medium of choice for aging. 

I'm off to pop some new tins... 

MINERVA-118

MINERVA: IN TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 185,1
Total Fat- 10g
Sat Fat- 2,8g
Protein- 21,5g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal


INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Tomato, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:




OVERALL:
A tomato aroma upon opening. Three plump fish to the tin. A soft textured fish falls apart very easily  No strong taste or after. Tomato sauce possesses a nice flavor, not sour. The sauce flavor really blends well with the sardines. I would eat again. 5 Sardines.

MINERVA: LIGHTLY SMOKED SARDINES IN OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 218
Total Fat- 13g
Protein- 24g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt, Natural Smoke Flavour

PRICE:




OVERALL:

A faint oil aroma upon opening. Five medium fish to the tin. A good textured fish, a mild-tasting fish. Fake smoke flavoring is very subtle. Not a spiny fish; no strong taste or after taste. A nice neutral-tasting fish. No overpowering oil flavor. I would eat again. 5 sardines.

MINERVA: IN OLIVE OIL

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 240
Total Fat- 16,4g
Sat Fat- 2,8g
Protein- 23,0g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt

PRICE:




OVERALL:
Oil aroma upon opening, three plump fish to the tin. A mild-flavored fish, not a spiny fish. Fish does not hold its shape well while removing from the tin. (this is made up by the flavor) No strong fishy taste or after. A clean after taste, a flavorful fish, oil not green, the oil adds to the fish and does not take away from it. Not a spiny fish. A meaty fish. I would eat again. 5 Sardines

MINERVA: IN HOT TOMATO SAUCE

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 185,1
Total Fat- 10g
Sat Fat- 2,8g
Protein- 21,5g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

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

PRICE:




OVERALL:
A peppery aroma upon opening. A very flavorful tin of fish. A nice, even, lingering heat to the tin. Pepper pods are present at the bottom of tin. The tomato sauce is very flavorful and compliments the fish. Not a spiny fish; no fishy taste or after taste. The heat really makes this tin. I will eat again. 5 sardines.

MINERVA: IN OLIVE OIL WITH CAYENNE PEPPER

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 219,6
Total Fat- 13,2g
Sat Fat- 3,0g
Protein- 24,6g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Olive Oil, Salt, Natural Smoke Flavour

PRICE:


OVERALL:
A faint oil aroma upon opening. Flour plump fish to the tin. Oil does not overpower the fish; the oil complements the fish; tin has a good balance of saltiness and heat, heat is subtle, and really adds to the flavor. A clean-tasting fish with no strong flavors. A nice subtle heat lingers... almost undetectable; it just makes you crave another tin. 5 Sardines.

MINERVA: IN TOMATO WITH SMOKE FLAVOR

APPEARANCE:

NUTRITION:
Calories- 140,4
Total Fat- 6,7g
Sat Fat- 2,3g
Protein- 19,2g

PRODUCT OF:
Portugal

INGREDIENTS:
Sardines, Sunflower Oil, Tomato, Natural Smoke Flavour, Salt

PRICE:


OVERALL:
A faint tomato aroma upon opening. A medium-textured fish. A mild tomato sauce; no bitterness or sourness from the sauce. No strong flavors or aftertaste. Fish is a tad on the dry side. A meaty fish. Not a spiny fish. 4 1/2 Sardines

* Warning:
As good as these are, 3 out of 6, the tabs broke off while attempting to open.

Luckily, I had my work keys to finish the job. (cleaned first)