Last year, on a flight from Valencia to New York, I had a layover in Lisbon. Whenever I can, I try to stay a few hours. Lisbon has something special, and for those of us who see conservas as more than just a product, it is a place always worth coming back to.
There are rituals that have become part of the trip: wandering through the city center, stopping by Conserveira de Lisboa near Praça do Comércio, walking through Baixa, visiting Loja das Conservas, and inevitably ending at Sol e Pesca, a bar where they only serve tinned fish. Places where time seems to slow down and where each tin tells a story.
But what I am really looking for every time I am there is not the familiar, but the unexpected.
The Discovery That Changed Everything
At Lata, discovery is what drives us most. Finding products we did not know existed, trying things that take us out of the ordinary.
That day, among many options, one tin caught my attention: barbo, or barbel, in caldeirada. I was not entirely sure what kind of fish it was, but that was exactly the point.
The tin sat for weeks in our Tuesday pile, where Vicent and I open, taste, and decide without a script or expectations, knowing that many of these rarities sometimes lead nowhere. Not everything surprises you. Some things just pass.
But every now and then, something different shows up. And this was one of those times.
From the very first bite, we knew we had something special. A deep flavor, a recipe with identity, something that did not fit into what we typically think of as tinned fish. Behind that tin was Bem Amanhado, a Portuguese expression that loosely translates to “well handled” or “skillfully made,” a quiet nod to craftsmanship and care.
What Makes Bem Amanhado Unique
What we discovered next was even more interesting. Bem Amanhado conservas are built around a rather unusual idea: freshwater fish.
Their range includes:
- Trout conservas
- Carp conservas
- Zander conservas
- Shad conservas
- Mullet conservas
- Catfish conservas
- Perch conservas
- Barbel in caldeirada
Species that, aside from trout, rarely appear in this format, and even less so at this level of execution.
Each recipe is rooted in Portuguese tradition, going far beyond the classic “fish in olive oil.” These are dishes:
- Built on traditional recipes like caldeirada
- Crafted with technique and intention
- Designed to revive regional culinary heritage
Craftsmanship, Tradition, and Origin
Behind the project are more than three decades of experience in hospitality and gastronomic tourism. A journey defined by understanding, selecting, and working with the best local products, especially from regions like Beira Interior and Pinhal Interior.
That knowledge is now being brought into the world of conservas.
The philosophy behind Bem Amanhado products is built on:
- Artisanal tradition
- Ancestral techniques
- Deep respect for raw ingredients
The result is a collection of tins with distinctive flavors, aromas, and textures. People are at the core of the process, adding value at every step and ensuring that each conserva reflects the knowledge and taste of Portuguese tradition.
Quality is a constant throughout the entire chain, from raw material selection to final packaging, always balancing sustainability with excellence.
A Tasting to Remember
Shortly after that first discovery, we received a broader selection of Bem Amanhado freshwater conservas.
It happened to coincide with a visit from my family from Spain, so we opened them together. It turned into one of those tastings you remember. Each tin sparked conversation, surprise, even a bit of disbelief.
It was not just that they were different, they were genuinely good.
That was the moment everything clicked.
Exclusive Importers of Bem Amanhado in the United States
After that, the next step was obvious. I got in touch with Leonel, the mind behind Bem Amanhado, with the idea of bringing this project to the United States.
It has taken months of work, adjustments, and coordination, but today these Portuguese freshwater fish conservas are finally available at Lata.
We are proud to be the exclusive importers of Bem Amanhado in the USA.
For us, this is not just another brand in the catalog. It represents:
- A completely new category of conservas
- A different way of understanding tinned fish
- An invitation to explore beyond the familiar
And above all, it is one of those stories worth sharing.
Explore a New World of Conservas
If you think you know tinned fish, Bem Amanhado will challenge that idea.
These are not just conservas. They are:
- Regional Portuguese recipes in a tin
- Freshwater fish reimagined
- A new frontier for conserva lovers in the United States
