The Pearl of the Gods

La Perle des Dieux – Vintage Sardines

For La Perle des Dieux vintage sardines, sardines are fished off Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie south of Nantes during the best season from August to September, and selected for their fat content of over 12%. The fact that the sardines are exclusively fished off St. Gilles Croix de Vie and between the islands of Yeu, Ré, and Noirmoutier is something very special. This is of great importance for the shelf life and quality of the sardines, because at the beginning of the sardine fishing season in April, the small fish contain only 2-3% fat, while at the end of the season they contain a good 12%.

The sardines are processed fresh from the catch within 48 hours, carefully by hand, individually. Diligent, experienced helpers gut them, clean them, remove their caudal fins, and place them by hand into cans, cover them with good olive oil, and then briefly heat them, as has been the tradition in Brittany since 1887 and as preserves their taste and ingredients for years. Covered with extra virgin olive oil, the sardines in their beautiful cans can be stored for 10 years or longer. These vintages improve over time like a good wine and are preserved in oil to obtain a very fine product that melts pleasantly in the mouth.

La Perle des Dieux – excellent canned fish since 1887

Each vintage of these excellent canned fish is unique; the flavors of the vintages can vary from year to year. Indeed, they are strongly dependent on many factors such as weather, water temperature, and ocean currents. For example, the warmer it is during the fishing season, the higher the amount of plankton that the sardines feed on, and the fatter and better they taste.

After canning, the vintages are stored in a dark and cool place and only released to the market after at least 6 months. To ensure they last a long time, the cans are turned every 6 months so that the sardines remain well covered with oil on all sides. La Perle des Dieux collaborates with two artists for the design of the vintage sardine cans. The two series are quite different: Mademoiselle by Delphine Cossais is more poetic and dreamy, and Lulu by artist Coralie Joulin is more pop and colorful. However, both series have their lovers. We carry vintages from 2016-2023.