Natural Catch Tuna

[JHZR2]

My YouTube ads started to give me ones for Natural Catch tuna. Supposedly “sushi grade” (whatever that means/fwiw for canned fish) tuna in quality Spanish EVOO.

I looked the product up, and found that they sell it at Whole Foods. I was there tonight, and grabbed some regular and some spicy. I didn’t realize how many variants of “higher end” tuna and salmon exist. I just knew the standard round cans, and then the sardines that my father lines but I never got an appetite for.

It is in oil, but it’s not oily. It is pole/line caught, processed in Vietnam (!). The fish is pinkish, not the white fish I’m used to from the standard white cans. While I have maybe once eaten round can tuna straight, if we have it, we use sweet relish and mayo to make tuna salad.

While this tuna just in EVOO isn’t the most flavorful (as compared to, say, a rare ahi tuna steak with sesame crust), I’d eat it straight again. I got a can of the spicy version too. It has the same basic ingredients (fish, EVOO, vegetable broth, water), but also has paprika, chili and sea salt. It has a mild and desirable spice. Nothing harsh or strong. It could use a touch more salt and would be perfect.

So overall I’m pleased. Yes, it’s $5.49/can, and not from Alaska or the North Atlantic, FWIW. I have no idea if Pacific tuna from that region brings concerns given China’s pollution/population, or post-Fukushima.

But as a portable, canned snack, I’d say it’s quite good. I may try others as there are a ton on the shelf at Whole Foods, and surely any other supermarket.

Definitely worth a try if interested in a $5.49 snack!

 

[wings&wheels]

Thanks, I will have to try. I am a fan of fish-in-a-can, and have the fortune of a Portuguese market a short drive away with an aisle of it; tuna, cod, herring, sardines, mackerel in water, EVOO and various seasonings. Good stuff that my Better Half makes me eat on the deck.

 

[spackard]

I buy the Ortiz white tuna del Norte. 24 pack for $130 at Amazon ends up $5.14/tin.
From Spain, line caught. I put it on a salad and have it for dinner. I call it private ocean tuna

 

[ls1mike]

I have had it before, and I really like it.

 

[Lubener]

At $5.49, too expensive for me. I will stick with Charlie Tuna.

 

[NYEngineer]

I've had that tuna. Pretty good.

Years ago, my dad and I got really good at catching tuna. I got so spoiled eating tuna fresh from the ocean that it was probably ten years before I could eat canned tuna again.

 

[Zee09]

I only like solid white albacore so I can get all of those trace ore minerals

 

[JHZR2]

I've had that tuna. Pretty good.

Years ago, my dad and I got really good at catching tuna. I got so spoiled eating tuna fresh from the ocean that it was probably ten years before I could eat canned tuna again.

Same. We go with live bait and grab tuna all the time. Only way to eat!

 

[JHZR2]

I only like solid white albacore so I can get all of those trace ore minerals

Basis? Does that have different minerals than other tuna?

 

[Zee09]

Basis? Does that have different minerals than other tuna?

They say it's much higher in mercury. Being serious, so I slacked off it a bit.

 

[JHZR2]

They say it's much higher in mercury. Being serious, so I slacked off it a bit.

That’s usually the case with fish higher up the food chain.

That said, there are healthy nutritious elements of eating fish so it’s a balance.

 

[Zee09]

That’s usually the case with fish higher up the food chain.

That said, there are healthy nutritious elements of eating fish so it’s a balance.

It's denser so they recommend
Chunk light instead...

 

[burbguy82]

nice review.....even if a can says it is from wherever......it could be from wherever.

 

[spackard]

Just FYI, since we are talking about tuna/albacore/bonito: copied and pasted from a recent EO.

• American Samoa is home to the only Buy American-compliant tuna processing facility for U.S. military rations and school lunch programs.

• This cannery is the largest employer on the island, providing about 5,000 jobs. In fact, the cannery accounts for 99.5% of American Samoa’s exports and 84% of the private employment in the territory.

 

[JHZR2]

nice review.....even if a can says it is from wherever......it could be from wherever.

My point was really that Asia and proximity to Chinese pollution and Japanese radiation effects (tuna is higher up in food chain) may be a consideration, vs North Atlantic perhaps (which may have its own issues).

Just FYI, since we are talking about tuna/albacore/bonito: copied and pasted from a recent EO.

• American Samoa is home to the only Buy American-compliant tuna processing facility for U.S. military rations and school lunch programs.
• This cannery is the largest employer on the island, providing about 5,000 jobs. In fact, the cannery accounts for 99.5% of American Samoa’s exports and 84% of the private employment in the territory.

Interesting given proximity (ish, the Pacific is a big place!) and my comments above.

 

[Al]

StatKist White Albacore in Olive oil. Best ever.

 

[JHZR2]

StatKist White Albacore in Olive oil. Best ever.

Eat out of the can good?

I can see a real benefit to being able to do that on the road or when a quick snack or lunch is needed.

 

[Al]

Eat out of the can good?

I can see a real benefit to being able to do that on the road or when a quick snack or lunch is needed.

Yea thats what I do..lol. Ever try this stuff?
My wife does use one can of this and a can of the Albacore in water.

 

[JHZR2]

Yea thats what I do..lol. Ever try this stuff?
My wife does use one can of this and a can of the Albacore in water.

No I have t tried that one, which is why I asked. We usually just have whatever albacore in water and make tuna salad.

 

[JHZR2]

Since writing this, I’ve had Ortiz tuna with olive oil and lemon, which was excellent, and more Natural Catch.

Tonight after swim practice, I had to get on the road quick because I had to be someplace. My swim team practice was right next to a Whole Foods, so I ran in and it turned out that they had a big sale on a lot of the different natural tuna types. Because of this, I got one of the more expensive ones, but I wouldn’t have necessarily bought at full price.

Yes, I ate it in the car. No, the car didn’t smell in the slightest. It was very good tuna. They call it spicy, but I really didn’t sense it at all. The flavor was good, and I liked it a lot.

Went down well with some kombucha.

And I was on the road in the blink of an eye.

I have t found the perfect tuna can yet. To me that would be one with a pinch more salt, and a tad more spice (not necessarily spicy, though that would be fine).

But I did enjoy this stuff!