Was fortunate enough to catch the Big L in person over the weekend, by the seaside, at a wedding reception. In the autumn night’s still warm weather we drank beer and feasted on the oysters and calamari plattered up to us guests. No sardines tonight, other than those up for discussion.

Between the chatter of the others at the table Big L leaned in toward me, as though to confess and maybe relaxed by the sea air or cerveza, stated. “Those Safcol really are the best. $1.40 and can’t be beat.”

I told him I’d found the tomato sauce Safcol in Woolworths. He was keen to confirm that these were the same fine firm textured tasty fish? I confirmed same fish and price, but also advised that the blandness of the sauce was a letdown, though they were worth a go for a safcol fan and that as one I’d keep a few in the cupboard.

“I’ll give ’em a go next time” L said. I pulled out of my jacket inside pocket a tin and handed it to him as his eyes lit up and smile widened. He really does love the safcol, a little more than I had known.

Discussion deepened to agreement on the greatness of the Brunswick brand lemon/thyme round tin brisling and a reminder to steer clear of the King Oscar brisling sardines in oil. Big L was quite animated, “I don’t know if it was the bones or the scales, but these were not good at all, crunchy texture. Horrible.”

His report on these had not been positive, but he was becoming visibly upset, like he enjoyed talking about them as much as he did eating them. “I didn’t even finish the tin.” I thought it best to change the subject and as I rose from my seat I asked if he’d like another beer? “Sure”.

Has anyone else out there had a bad experience with these KO soybean oil brisling or any other tin? Please let us know at misterpeasman@gmail.com

After so much time in Spratland I have returned to some sardines proper, full sized. What brought me back were a fine looking tin of SOLE MARE Portugese Style sardines in olive oil. Four firm fish to the can with the first bite reminding me of Santamaria, which now seem hard to come by.

I was cast back to lunches past, a crusty pasta dura roll, a bed of shredded iceberg lettuce and sliced tomato with Santamaria sardines in chilli oil on top. The flavour of the fish was certainly similar.

They used a very strong olive oil, which is fine by me. Bones are here but hardly noticed. These are great sardines if a little pricey at $2.80 a tin. I know I’d buy them again though. Are much larger and pack a great deal more flavour than a Safcol brisling, no bitterness to note. Packaging advises these are from Atlantic’s “eastern zones”, Portugese Style but product of Spain.

As I said, I’d buy these again, and I’d be encouraged to try the chilli and the tomato sauce options from this range.

Not a fan of the texture, they are a little bit crunchy perhaps the scales or bones… fish a bit large for my liking. Stronger flavour than fellow brisling sardines.

Big L also gave his thoughts on the Brunswick brisling sardines in olive oil.

Man these Brunswick just put those King Oscar to absolute shame. Fish are much smaller, how I prefer, subtle flavour, olive is not strong at all, I reckon at least 20 fish in the tin. I give these a strong 9/10. Yum!
King Oscar would be 5/10

Keep ’em coming Big L, and anyone out there with a photo and their thoughts about any sardine tin send us a message here at mistersardine@gmail.com

Got on to the sprats in olive oil, the counterpart to the already mentioned Brunswick brisling sardines with lemon and thyme in canola oil, and I continue to be impressed.

Had a bad time with some other brand lemon sardines so was looking forward to getting back to basics. These are delicate in their sweet flavour, untainted by the olive oil. Maybe it’s the oil but I feel like these might be slightly less firm than the canola option.

Reduced to $2 I feel I have scored a bargain. Against the Safcol, these are more delicate and luxurious. A place for both with these Brunswick on my top shelf.

Hearted by my experience with the Brunswick lemon and thyme sprats I was excited to see, at Coles supermarket, Sole Mare wild brisling sardines with lemon. These came in canola oil and with a whole lemon slice, including the pips, layed on top, looking pretty enticing. Made in Latvia.

Two layers of fish that smelled good as I peeled back the plastic lid. A firm texture, which could be attributed to a slight dryness, though this wasn’t unwelcome.
What was not good was the overly lemon flavour, which combined with the fish to give an overpoweringly sour after taste. This surprised me after good experience with other sole mare tins and the Brunswick lemon and thyme sprats.

Really disappointing considering that the fish themselves had a texture I appreciated as well as a nice firmness, but the overpowering lemon rind flavour that stayed long after you finished eating was terrible.

I bought these for $2.80 reduced from $3.50 though I wouldn’t buy again at any price, not this lemon type. No thanks, seriously bad option compared to the otherwise good Sole Mare sprat range.

I wasn’t looking for something fancy, but when in Woolworths (the main competition for the Coles chain of supermarkets) I noticed a so far unseen sardine – lightly smoked brisling sardines from Latvia. Two varieties were on offer at the 40% reduced price of $2, in olive oil or with ‘thyme and lemon’ in sunflower oil.

Without hesitation I took some of the olive oil; I’d never been a flavoured fish lover but these looked pretty good through the plastic lid and I thought, why not? as I took some of the ‘thyme and lemon’ too.

Well I’m glad I did and I will be going back (the next time they are reduced to $2). Tin claims 0.5% thyme and 0.1% lemon oil, I claim this amount is perfect and I’m sold on this flavour.

Smokiness is barely detectable, and really only in the aftertaste. I’d say these are a little less firm than the safcol, but very near, with a similar clean taste placed slightly in the background to the lemon and thyme. This tin makes me feel like all should have a little lemon.

As I said, I’ll be going back for more, texture deserves praise and so does the flavour. Only a personal desire for a little extra firmness stops this tin from nearing Perfection.

At $2 I call this amazing value, and at $3.50 I’d buy two safcol tins and pocket the change. Forgetting price, I really enjoyed these sardines and will be sure to stock up the next time they’re on sale.

I have a friend called Big L, who compared to anyone I’ve met, has an unequaled passion for catching and eating fish. When Big L’s own catch is depleted he’ll crack open a tin, most often sardines.

When we last spoke, the talk turned sardine and Big L told me he’d eaten some only an hour ago so could give us our first Mr Sardine Sardine Report.

SAFCOL ‘delicatessen’ Brisling Sardines in sunflower oil. Purchased at Coles Supermarket, an Australian major chain supermarket for $1.40.

Big L thought these sardines, which were about 16 to the tin, had a firm texture and an excellent subtle flavour. Big L said they were canned in Poland from wild fish caught in Baltic and European waters.

“Shih-tzu, these sardines are good. They’re firm enough to pick out of the tin fish by fish. The flavour is very subtle, but the best thing about these is the texture. Price and availability are a bonus too. Will definitely buy again.

Well Big L says we are on a winner. I asked how he had eaten them and he said by themselves out of the tin after draining the oil. He doesn’t muck around when it comes to sardines.

I can agree with Big L all the way with the Safcol brisling in sunflower oil. I don’t believe these can be beat for value and I find them particularly firm. I consider them my go to and, in a way, the fish to provide context for future sardine reports.

Sardines are wild caught, low in mercury, true ocean jewels, served up to us in neat stackable tins of infinite variety. Nutritionally, considering protein and omega 3 fat per serve, our friends leave tinned tuna and salmon for dead.

Mr. Sardine wants all the world to love sardines, and more importantly he wants us all to have a hand navigating the wide world of tinned sardines. Every day Mr. Sardine is adding reviews to his database and he won’t stop until we know about every tin in the world