Jungle Jims is known for importing high quality products from all of over the world. I stumbled upon the Spanish section of the store and saw their selection. Of course, I grabbed a few tins of sardines to resupply my collection. I enjoyed Daporta's branding but was skeptical that it would be worth its price tag ($6).
I should have expected the level of quality in this tin. Galicia and Northern Portugal are the pinnacle of the tinned fish industry. The crisp North Atlantic waters combined with the thriving coastal ecosystems lead to a high quality catch. Daporta is a local brand that focuses on quality rather than output.
Sardinillas are usually quite digestible. They are small enough to eat one-by-one but still meaty enough to have a chew. They can fall short when sardines are too oily or a saggy texture. The Daporta sardinillas exhbited none of these characteristics. They were almost buttery in their taste and the olive oil was certainly higher grade. Even with a slight cold, I was deploying bread to soak the remaining pieces of the tin.
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.
As do Mar, based in Olbia, Sardinia, is a family-run business known for its artisanal and sustainable approach to canned fish. Since 1980, they’ve adhered to the highest standards, using only “Friend of the Sea” certified tuna. It was a high quality tuna to try!
I picked up Belmar Sardinhas at Central Market. They recently had an event focused on Portuguese cuisine. Portuguese cuisine certainty includes its sardines which can be delectable. Belmar was a standard-fare sardine that satisfied my lunch needs.
Have fun. Don't be mean. Feel free to criticize sardines, not people. Report bad behavior.
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