CÂNTARA Artisanal Lemon Sardines in Olive Oil

Cântara is tied to the canning history of northern Portugal's Matosinhos — the harbor city near Porto that has long been a center of fishing and Conservas.

The brand emphasizes a family canning tradition: from sea and catch, to seasonal selection and fish-by-fish sorting, with heavy handwork in traditional production. Even the final paper wrap is applied by hand. For Cântara, Conservas is an artisan craft — not just putting fish in a can.

The history runs deep — the canning lineage linked to Cântara goes back to the 1940s, begun by Carlo Lazzara of Italian background in Matosinhos, then carried through family; in 1977 Fausto Oliveira Cântara took over, and the craft continues today.

This series also makes "old craft" feel young. Packaging illustration is by young Portuguese artists, so each tin is a little humorous, a little like an artwork — which is why Cântara stands out among traditional sardines at a glance.

This tin uses Atlantic sardines with olive oil and lemon. Lemon brightens the fish's richness without heavy sauce — ideal if you want to taste texture. Catch is canned promptly after seasonal harvest, with traditional hand steps retained.

Cântara's most charming line might be:

"Young art wrapping an old craft."