Seafood is an extensive subcategory of premium tinned seafood, represented above all by the Galician and Cantabrian producers Conservas de Cambados, Los Peperetes, Don Bocarte and La Brújula. The range includes clams (almejas), cockles (berberechos), anchovies (both in salt and in escabeche marinade), sardines, mackerel, octopus with paprika and the renowned tuna in the Bonito del Norte (white tuna) and Atún Rojo (red tuna) versions. Over 90 products cover the whole spectrum of classic Spanish "conservas" - gourmet tinned goods that are regarded in Spain as a luxury delicacy.
How to find your way around this category
Bivalves (almejas - clams, berberechos - cockles) have a delicate, sea flavour and are served on their own, straight from the tin. Anchovies can be found in salt (whole, for further preparation) or in escabeche marinade (ready to eat immediately). Tuna is divided into Bonito del Norte (white, more delicate) and Atún Rojo (red, more pronounced, fattier). Sardines and mackerel are available as fillets in olive oil.
Quality and price rise with the size and the method of fishing - smaller, hand-sorted pieces (lower numbers in the designation, such as 16/20) tend to be more expensive and are considered more premium.
Overview of the main kinds
Product
Spanish name
Characteristics
Clams
Almejas
Delicate sea flavour, natural brine
Cockles
Berberechos
Small bivalves, distinctly sea flavour
White tuna
Bonito del Norte
More delicate, lighter flesh, premium quality
Red tuna
Atún Rojo
More pronounced, fattier flesh
Anchovies
Anchoas / Boquerones
In salt, or marinated (escabeche)
You will always find the exact size grade (e.g. 16/20, 20/30) and weight in the product detail - lower numbers mean larger and usually more expensive pieces.
Why Bonito del Norte is so highly valued
Bonito del Norte, in English white tuna (the species Thunnus alalunga), is caught using the traditional "de anzuelo" method - on a line, one fish at a time, which preserves the quality of the flesh more gently than mass netting. Its flesh is lighter, more delicate and less fatty than that of red tuna, and that is precisely why it ranks among the most highly valued kinds of tinned tuna in Spain.
Serve premium tinned seafood on its own, with just a little good bread - unnecessary seasoning overpowers its delicate natural flavour.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Bonito del Norte and Atún Rojo?
Bonito del Norte is white tuna with more delicate, lighter flesh, while Atún Rojo is red tuna with a more pronounced and fattier flavour.
What does a designation such as 16/20 or 30/40 on a tin mean?
It is a size grade indicating the number of pieces per kilogram - lower numbers mean larger pieces, which are usually more expensive.
What is the difference between anchovies in salt and in escabeche?
Anchovies in salt are whole and intended for further preparation (desalting, filleting), while anchovies in escabeche (marinade) are ready to eat immediately.
Why are these tins more expensive than ordinary ones?
These are gourmet tinned goods processed by hand, in small batches and shortly after the catch, which ensures markedly higher quality and flavour than with industrial tinned goods.
How long does an opened tin of seafood keep?
Once opened it belongs in the fridge and should be consumed within 1-2 days; the producer states the exact use-by period on the packaging.
The kind of seafood and the size grade. Also: smaller numbers in the designation mean larger, more premium pieces.
What we base this on
On information from the producers Conservas de Cambados, Don Bocarte and La Brújula. Also: we verify the specific weight and size grade with the individual products.
Where the limits are
The range is very broad, over 90 products. Also: to find your way more quickly, use the filter by brand or price.
What this category does not cover
Neither preserved vegetables nor olives. Also: you will find those in the corresponding subcategories.