Sardine in a Can

Sardine is the type that you either love or hate, and I just happen to love the taste of it. However, I haven't been able to find any great grilled sardines in the US, and it has been a challenge to find good sardines in a can also. So, I have been trying to find the best that is available in the US and here are a few of some I have tried:

Cole's Sardines Smoked Portuguese Sardines in Olive Oil, Portugal

The Good: The smokiness is about right, not overly strong, not so weak to distinguish. It adds complexity to the taste of sardine.
The Bad: Falls apart quite easily. Makes you curious whether fish was fresh during canary process.
Rating: 3

Morgada - Sardines Portugaises a la Tomate, Portugal, $4.50

The Good: Overall taste of the tomato sauce is quite good. Sardines are average.
The Bad: Sardines in tomato sauce just not my favorite, quite pricey.
Rating: 2

Matiz Gallego, Spain, $2.95

The Good: The size of sardines come just right! Chunky and tasty, with firm texture yet not too rough, without strong fishly smell. The bone is chewable and crunchy.
The Bad: Just couldn't get enough in one can.
My thoughts: Serve with toast.
Rating: 5

As do Mar Sardine (all'olio di Oliva), Portugal, $2.95

The Good: Taste is decent without strong fishly smell. Texture is not firm enough but overall is not bad.
The Bad: Salty.
My thoughts: Serve with food, say salad...
Rating: 4

Angelo Parodi Sardine (all'olio di Oliva), Portugal, $2.95

The Good: Fair. Taste - Okay. Nothing stands out exceptionally.
The Bad: Texture is slightly soft with slightly strong fishly flavor.
Rating: 2

Ligo (Tomato Sauce), The Phillipines, $0.XX

The Good: Price.
The Bad: Fishes are small and lack of the sweetness. Texture is soft and slightly rough.
Rating: 1

Bela-Olhao (Olive Oil), Portugal, $2.XX

The Good: Fair. Imported from Portugal.
The Bad: Fishes are small with slightly strong fishly taste.
Rating: 1

King Oscar (Two Layer, Olive Oil), Norway, $2.65

The Good: Fair. Neatly packaged. No fishly taste.
The Bad: Fishes are significantly small.
Rating: 2

Crown Prince (Two Layer, Olive Oil), Scotland, $2.65

The Good: Fair. No fishly taste. Similar to King Oscar Brand.
The Bad: Fishes are significantly small. No chewable bones.
Rating: 2

Sardine Pollastrini di Anzio, Italy, $4.95

Piccanti all'Olio d'Oliva Specialita della Casa
The Good: Although size of the sardines is relatively small, they have so much flavor in them, especially a kick of spiciness. Texture is firm, and olive oil is nicely "aged" in the oil.
The Bad: Not enough.
My thoughts: It is one of the best in the market most definitely, but it can't be consumed all by itself because of the saltiness.
Rating: 5

Natural Sea Brisling Sardines in Soybean Oil, Poland, $2.95

The Good: Flavorful.
The Bad: Texture is sort of mushy. Size is rather small. Bones are not noticeable.
Rating: 3


(Not able to find in the US)
Conservas Portugal Norte, Portugal

Porthos - Sardines A L'huile D'Olive
My thoughts: Served with salad.
Rating: 5

Porthos - Sardines A L'huile D'Olive Piquantes
My thoughts: Served with toasted bread, food, and more...
Rating: 5

Porthos - Sardines a la sauce tomate
The Good: Tomato sauce is not made of tomato paste, instead it is tomato oil. Fish is decent, size is slightly smaller as compared to others, without strong fishly smell.
The Bad: Texture is slightly rough. Sardines & tomato sauce just not sophisticated enough.
My thoughts: hmmm.... spaghetti?
Rating: 3

Bon Appetit - Sardines Portugaises a l'huile d'olive, Portugal

The Good: Fair, nothing exceptionally stands out.
The Bad: Salty and relatively smaller than others, fairly strong fishly smell.
Rating: 2

Kampell - Sardinal Portuguese, Portugal

The Good: Taste is unexpectedly fine without strong fishly scent.
The Bad: Not spicy enough, and the size of sardines is relatively small.
Rating: 4

Maruzzella - Sardine (All'olio di Oliva), Italy

The Good: Overall quality is superb. The size of sardines is in the larger size; the taste is well preserved; and they are not very salty.
The Bad: Bones are not crunchy enough to be noticeable.
My thoughts: It is a versatile product to be used for almost everything.
Rating: 4

Nostromo - Sardine All'olio di Oliva, Italy

The Good: Chunky.
The Bad: Not enough flavor, and texture is rough.
Rating: 2

Delicius - Sardine All'olio di Oliva, Italy

The Good: The size of sardines is good. Bones are adequately crunchy. It's lightly seasoned so additional seasoning can be added to it.
The Bad: Texture and taste tend to be on the mushy and fishy side.
My thoughts: It is versatile and I think it can be made as a Pâté .
Rating: 4

Fauchon Rillettes de Sardine, France

The Good: This is not a regular sardine in a can, but pâté in a jar. It has a very enjoyable taste, although it is quite different from what I have reviewed so far.
The Bad: Addictive.
Rating: 5

Minerva Sardines Piquantes Portugaises A L'Huile Vegetale, Portugal

Rating: 3

Season Skinless and Boneless Imported Sardines in Pure Olive Oil, Morocco

The Good: Excellent for making pâté and breadspread. Olive oil complimenting the sardines is thick and tasteful.
The Bad: Firm texture that makes them hard to chew. Sardine itself is less impressive than the olive oil.
Rating: 4
To Be Continue...

Chocolate Reviews

It's a log of all the chocolates I have tried... and I am planning to share my 2 cents on different chocolates:

Cafe~Tasse, Belgium
Noir - The Earl Grey
Rating: 9

Confiserie Heilemann, Germany
Edelbitter-Schokolade 77% Cocoa
Rating: 9

Michel Cluizel, France
Noir Infini 99%
Rating: 9

Recchiuti, San Francisco, CA, United States
Force Noir
Rating: 9

Amedei, Italy
Napolitains - Cioccolato Fondente Extra 75%
Rating: 8.5

Domori, Italy
Tavolette - Chuao Hacienda San Jose
Rating: 8

Baratti & Milano, Torino, Italia
Napolitains - Cioccolato Finissimo al Latte
Rating: 8

Vivani, Germany
70% Cacao Edel Bitter (Ecuador)
Rating: 7.5

Maglio, Italia
Africa Cacao 75%
Rating: 7.5

Republica Del Cacao, United States
Los Rios 75% Cacao
Rating: 7.5

Santo Domingo Cacao 70%
Rating: 6.5

Les Freres Blanc, France
Chocolat noir 72% de cacao
Rating: 7.5

Hachez, Deutschland
Cocoa D'Arriba Mango Chili 77% cacao
Rating: 7.5

Cote d'Or, Belgium
Noir 70% Cocoa
Rating: 7.5

Le Belge, Napa, California, United States
Cacao Noir 72% Artisan Dark Belgian Chocolate With Roasted Cacao Nibs
Rating: 7.5

Valrhona, France
Guanaja - Chocolat Noir 70%
Rating: 7.5

Agnes B Delices 70% Noir
Rating: 7.5

Perlege, Belgium
Noir
Rating: 7.5

The Tea Room, American Canyon, California, United States
72% Cacao Dark Chocolate Infused with Yerba Mate Tea & Cacao Nibs
Rating: 7

Green & Black's, England
Dark 85%
Rating: 7

Chocovic, Spain
Guaranda 71% Cocoa
Rating: 7

Feodora Chocolade, Bremen, Germany
Grand 'Or 75% Cocoa
Rating: 7

Godiva, Belgium
Overall Rating: 7

Marks & Spencer, England
Dark Chocolate with Peruvian Cocoa 72% Cocoa Solids
Rating: 7


The Tea Room, American Canyon, CA, United States
Dark Chocolate Infused with Yerba Mate Tea and Cacao Nibs
Rating: 6.5

Cuorenero, Bologna, Italy
Kiwi a Pezzi - Puro Cioccolato Fondente Extra
Rating: 6.5

Toblerone, Switzerland
Milk Chocolate With Honey and Almond Nougat
Rating: 6.5

Isis Luxury, Belgium
Belgian Extra Dark Chocolate - 85% Cocoa
Rating: 6.5

Meiji, Japan
Cacao 99%
Rating: 6

Stainer, Italy
Tavoletta Di Puro Cioccolator Fondente - Cacao 100%
Rating: 5.5

Hersey's, United States
Cocoa Reserve 65%
Rating: 5

Scharffen Berger, Berkeley, CA, United States
70% Cacao Bittersweet
Rating: 4

82% Cacao Extra Dark
Rating: 6

See's Candy, United States
Overall Rating: 3