I place the flat tin of sardines, which was bought from Lidl at a cost of 19 kronor, on the kitchen countertop. The rectangular tin is packed inside a sealed cardboard box with the dimensions 11cmx6.5cmx3cm. The information on the box is in Swedish and Finnish: The skin-and-bone free sardines are packed in sunflower oil and a lemon slice, weighs 125g net and 90g drained. The fish (sardina pilchardus) were caught with purse seine nets and trawlers in the Eastern Central Atlantic – FAO Area 34.
The box also has barcodes on three sides, nutrition listings, and a best before date of 31.12.2028 – listed below the date is the following text: “L043T Morocco 1156”. The box is predominantly blue in colour and, on the front, has a picture of sardine fillets placed on a white plate, and garnished with lemon slices as well as leaves of some sort – which is presented as a serving suggestion.
I start to remove the cardboard around the tin. The box flaps are glued shut and require using a fingernail to pick an edge loose and to then peel open. I try to not tear the glued flap, but even so, some tearing happens. The tin, which measures 10.5cmx6.3cmx2.8cm, fits snugly in the box, but also slides out without much effort. It’s silverish in colour, with a slight bronze tinge, and a dull shine.
The longer sides of the tin are lined with about ten protruding ridges each, while the shorter sides are lined with three ridges each. The bottom has two shallow oblong depressions, one nesting inside the other. (The number 32 is faintly stamped in the innermost oblong.) There is also a small dent on the underside, about two centimeters in length.
The tin’s lid is imprinted with the same info found on the side of the box – “31.12.2028” and “L043T Morocco 1156.” – but they are askew. This is the only text on the tin. The lid also has nested oblong depressions, though these are larger in dimension. On one end of the lid is the ring tab with which to open the tin. The ring tab looks much like those on soda cans but broader. It’s pear-shaped with a large hole at the bottom through which one can grasp the tab.
The bottom of the tab – the part to be lifted – rests on two bumps, which results in the tab being raised slightly above the surface of the lid. Between these bumps, and underneath the tab, is small indentation. The combined effect of the bumps and the indentation allows the tab to be easily held and lifted from the surface – without using anything, such as a butter knife for example, to pry it up.
Using one hand to hold down the tin, I grasp and lift the tab more than 90 degrees with my other hand, which causes the tab to push down into the lid, and for the lid to cave in somewhat, revealing a sliver of oil as the seal is broken. I insert a finger into the tab, and using my thumb as leverage, I pull it slowly towards me, allowing the thin lid to be incrementally peeled away from the tin. The lid, which is oily underneath, and which now has a curved shape, requires a bit of jiggling to completely detach.