Conservas de Cambados Barnacles in Brine
$29.99
Sale price
$29.99
Regular price
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Conservas de Cambados Barnacles in Brine
$29.99
Sale price
$29.99
Regular price
Conservas de Cambados is based in Galicia, a region renowned for some of Europe's most prized shellfish. Among the most sought-after are goose barnacles, known in Spain as percebes, which are harvested by hand from wave-battered rocks during extreme low tides, often timed with full or new moons when the sea recedes slightly further.
Hunters must time their movements precisely between crashing Atlantic waves, as a single unexpected swell can sweep them off the rocks or smash them against the stone. They wear wetsuits, kneepads, and heavy-duty grip gloves, using a specialized iron scraper tool called a raspa or raspeta to chisel the clusters of barnacles off the granite.
Barnacles are one of the most distinctive seafood products in Spain. I find them to have a texture akin to crab with a brininess that oyster aficianados would appreciate.
These are a great choice for larger conservas boards. I like to serve them alongside other more familiar tins. Barnacles look prehistoric and make a great conversation piece. Read more about conservas boards in our construction manual.
Because harvesting percebes is difficult and often dangerous work, they have long been considered a specialty item in Spain and Portugal. For many conservas enthusiasts, barnacles represent one of the more unusual and memorable products available in a tin.
Because the largest and tastiest barnacles grow in the most violently battered and inaccessible crevices, the job carries a high risk of injury or death. For a closer look at what separates everyday tins from premium conservas, see our guide to premium tinned fish pricing.
Serve them chilled and enjoy them on their own to appreciate their unique texture and flavor. Have a pick around to help fish the meat from the shell. A squeeze of lemon is ok but don't overdo it. Maybe keep a glass of albariño close by.
Made in Spain
Net Weight: 111 g