Each sardine is carefully selected and cleaned by hand, following the time-honored traditions of Galicia. The fish are delicately roasted over an open flame to maintain their tender texture without sacrificing firmness. After roasting, the sardines are packed individually with a light touch of lemon essence and immersed in premium olive oil.
Daporta is a small cannery from Galicia. They only produce a few hundred units of sardines per year and I was lucky enough to find one at Cincinnati's Jungle Jims. And their tin of Sardinillas may have been the best tin I've had yet
Matiz's heartier sardines, three per tin, deliver a rich, natural taste without added peppers. Harvested from the Eastern Atlantic, these sardines in quality olive oil highlight their umami flavor and flaky texture. Ideal for quick, nutritious meals, they embody the simplicity and satisfaction of tinned fish.
Ramón Peña is a premium-end cannery that offers products across the Tin Hat universe. Our team checked out its sardinillas and it was no disappointment. The sardinillas offered that same palette complexity found in a larger Sardine while they still fit on a cracker. For something of this caliber, we chose to eat them by the fork. The tin demonstrates that not all fish are created equally.
Their taste is a delightful buttery one and their texture is tender and firm. For someone new to sardines, these are certain to leave a good impression. Clean, tasty, and reasonably priced - what a great starting point.