![](\"http:\/\/www.red-bean.com\/sussman\/blog\/images\/as-do-mar-package.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\nThis week’s tuna comes to us from the waters of Portugal, then
\ndistributed by a company in Genova, Italy. The brand is As do
\nMar<\/b>, and it’s titled Tonno Trancio Intero<\/b>.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
As you can see from the packaging, it claims to be “hand worked”
\n(lavorato a mano<\/i>), packaged in olive oil.<\/p>\n
I was impressed upon first opening the can at the distinct
\nlack<\/i> of aroma. The oil drained clearly (almost no fish
\nsediment) and had almost no smell at all. This was not your typical
\nlow-quality olive oil which tends to overpower the fish and come away
\nsmelling like a rotten seabed. No, this oil was delicate enough for
\nme to use in cooking dinner, without over-fishing my stir fried
\nvegetables!<\/p>\n
The tuna itself appeared to be white tuna, and was packed extremely
\ndensely. It took a bit of force to break through the dense fibers
\nwith my fork:<\/p>\n
![](\"http:\/\/www.red-bean.com\/sussman\/blog\/images\/as-do-mar-opened.jpg\"\/)
<\/p>\n
Coming near the nose, the fish had a slightly spicy, salty aroma,
\nbut then after a few minutes of airing, it opened up into a more
\nsubtle herbaceous bouquet — perhaps that of distant seaweed. The
\nolive oil had barely any flavor exchange with the fish, which was a
\npleasant surprise to this old can-diver.<\/p>\n
On the tongue, a very quiet start, not too strong at all. A heavy,
\nmeaty texture, with a definite (though not overwhelming) tuna flavor,
\nfollowed by a clean finish. This stuff would be perfect for hors
\nd’oeuvres, edible even by those who typically loathe fishy dishes. It
\nwouldn’t offend a flea. Overall, I give it 3 1\/2 fins, an excellent
\nfind.<\/p>\n
The back of the box says<\/p>\n
“Il Trancio Intero di Tonno As do Mar e da sempre un prodotto
\ndalle caratteristiche eccezionali grazie alla perfetta pulizia
\neseguita da mani esperte, all’ antica lavorazione artigianale e alla
\nselezione delle parti piu adatte per ottenere un Trancio Intereo dal
\ngusto unico.”<\/i><\/p>\n