Island Creek Mussels in Pickled Sauce

Sale Price: $19.00

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Style: One Tin

Where it's from: Galicia, Spain

These mussels taste as if they were just plucked from the ocean and are perfect straight out of the tin. They have a beautifully delicate texture and are coated in a light tomato vinegar sauce.

What's Inside?

Ingredients: Mussels, olive oil, vinegar, garlic, bay leaf, spices

Nutrition Summary per Container
Calories: 140
Total Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 30mg
Sodium: 430mg
Total Carbohydrate: 2g
- Dietary Fiber: 0g
- Total Sugars: 0g
- Added Sugars: 0g
Protein: 8g

Why We Love It

These mussels were grown on floating rafts using rope culture before being harvested by mariscadoras. Shellfishing in Galicia is highly restricted, so licenses are often passed down through generations, often staying within families. We've chosen to source the highest quality grade of shellfish for this line.

Harvesting and canning production are entirely dictated by the seasons and the health of the shellfish stocks, meaning that no two years will look exactly alike. For example, if it’s an off-year for mussels, production is capped at fewer tins. They refuse to supplement from fisheries in farther flung waters to fill their coffers, ultimately leaving money on the table. This is what sourcing from a single origin truly means, and is why these products are so special.

The ocean has shaped the culture, cuisine, and economy of Galicia for centuries. Nicknamed "the land of a thousand rivers", Galicia is studded with bays and inlets which are fed "rias" [aka estuaries). It's this magical brew of the fresh and salt water that makes Galicia one of the most prolific shellfishing regions in the world.

How To Eat It

Do as the Spaniards have done for hundreds of years - open the tin, open your mouth, and just eat it gurl. Or, use to make a fancy bruschetta with lemon aioli and fresh chilis.

⚠ Prop 65 Warning

Consuming this product can expose you to chemicals including lead, which are known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov.

TINNED FISH FAQ

How do I eat/serve tinned fish?

Ideally, you can just eat it straight out of the tin—so long as you're buying high quality products (but that's why you're here, isn't it?). For a simple preparation, you can put it toasted sourdough bread or crackers, with a little mustard and pickled vegetables for some balanced acidity.

There are many ways to enjoy this beautiful tradition, if you're looking for recipe inspiration check out this link for some ideas!

How long will it last once I buy it?

Tinned fish lasts a very long time. We generally say it's best to consume the product by the "Best used by" date printed on the tin for best results, however people have been aging tins for generations. These products are completely shelf-stable and should last at least 3-5 years un-opened!

Why is tinned seafood more "sustainable"?

While not unequivocal, there are definitely environmental benefits to tinned seafood. A few reasons include: Increased traceability, shelf-stable, zero food waste, recyclable materials, and lower-footprint supply chains.

Why is an oyster farm selling tinned fish?

Tinning fish is a time-honored way of preserving seafood at peak freshness that has sustained families for generations; not only on the dinner table, but by providing a stable income to small coastal communities around Europe. At one time, tinned fish was even served to inmates in local prisons and was the main protein source for lower income families along remote coastlines. This history is reminiscent of the popularity of oysters here in the United States during the 19th century, when the abundance of wild oysters gave economic stability and affordable protein to working class families for decades until oyster stocks were depleted.

As an oyster farm, we’re diehard evangelists of the benefits of responsible ocean farming. We see aquaculture as an integral part of our future global food system. With the ability to grow shellfish, we reduce the dependency on wild stocks, decrease the excess of nitrogen in our oceans, and create meaningful jobs in coastal communities. Everybody wins.

Overall rating: 4.205128 / 5 from 39 reviews.

AI Generated Review Summary

Island Creek Mussels in Pickled Sauce, sourced from Galicia, Spain, offer a fresh and high-quality flavor. Customers appreciate the delicate texture and the unique taste reminiscent of ocean-fresh mussels. The product is perfect for direct consumption or as an ingredient in dishes like bruschetta.

Summary topics

  • Flavor Quality: 31%
  • Mussel Quality: 70%

Review topics: ["flavor","quality","texture","mussels","sauce"].

Review highlights

  • "Huge mussels and delicious tangy sauce."maria m.
  • "Excellent texture and high quality taste!"Sarah W.
  • "These mussels are so juicy and plump, I swear they looked even better than the picture when I opened the can!"Alec F.

Reviews

Hard to palette, sandy texture

"These were not very good. The taste was sour and fishy and the texture was like sandy liver. This one was very challenging, not my cup of tea"

z (1/5)

So Tasty!

"We love tinned fish and these mussels were just perfect!"

Kathryn M. (5/5)

Good but could be better

"Good quality product with typical acidic flavor, a little bit crumbly"

Perry (3/5)

Delicious.

"Delicious."

Pasquale D. (5/5)

Not my favorite thing

"The quality was great. Big solid mussels, nice texture. Fresh tasting sauce. I think I’m just not a fan of mussels. If you aren’t wild about mussels, these are probably not for you."

Paula C. (3/5)

The best tinned mussels

"Holy heck! These are delicious 😋. Huge, flavorful mussels have me already adding more to my shopping cart. Wow! What are you waiting for? You need these in your life (unless you don't care for pickled sauce). Omg. Stellar. 5/5 stars."

David R. (5/5)

Could be better

"I love mussels but I wasn’t crazy about these, I think due to the pickled sauce. I didn’t really care for the sauce and I think it took away from the flavor of the mussels. I think a tomato based sauce or lemon butter would work better."

Alanna A. (3/5)

Mushy Mussels

"I have been ordering from ICO “since the pandemic”, about 4 years. Everything I’ve had has been excellent. Until the mussels. These were dense and mealy, almost like a pickled chicken liver. I will continue to try new things from them but this one fell short."

Kelly C. (2/5)

great

"I loved these. I ate them on kettle fried potato chips with a drop or two of tabasco. Good consistency to the mussels as well."

Kevin C. (5/5)

High quality - if you like tinned mussels

"They’re clearly exceptional mussels, but apparently I don’t like tinned mussels very much, even though I do enjoy fresh mussels. I’ve tried quite a few tins, but have only liked one so far (Fangst #1), so I’m quite sure this is me. Some people love tinned mussels; some of us just don’t. It was worth a try, though! The taste & texture of these is much nicer than most and I would feel confident offering this tin to someone who does like tinned mussels."

Ann R. (4/5)

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