Little fish in oil, arranged in rows in a tin box. A sandwich with herring on a festive table, the smell of smoking from an open can. Herring is the taste of childhood, the smell of the Soviet Union, a symbol of prosperity. But they also have their own holiday. Herring Day is celebrated on May 29. Yes, there is a birthday for canned food. And it's a great occasion to remember how humanity thought of putting fish in a jar, pouring oil over it, and sending it to conquer the world.

Who and When Herring Was Invented

The exact date is May 29, 1890. On this day, the German entrepreneur Karl Gerber from the city of Lübeck patented a new method of fish preservation. He took small sprats, smoked them with birch sawdust, tightly packed them into tin cans, and poured olive oil over them. It turned out unusually: the fish did not crumble, it was tender, spicy, and kept for months. Thus, "herring" appeared — from the German "Sprotte," which means "sprat."

Before Gerber, fish were smoked and salted, but canned food was not invented. Gerber guessed that smoking in hot smoke (70-80 degrees) sterilizes the fish, and oil does not allow oxygen to enter. The idea was brilliant. Within a few years, herring from Lübeck was sold all over Europe.

Herring came to Russia at the beginning of the 20th century. First, it was brought from Germany, then factories were opened in Riga, Kaliningrad, and the Far East. In the Soviet Union, herring was a symbol of prosperity — it cost more than ordinary canned food, and it was only put on the table on holidays.

How Herring Is Made: Technology

Classical herring is made from sprats, mackerel, or small herring. The fish is washed, gutted (sometimes not), and salted. Then they are threaded onto special rods and placed in a smokehouse with birch sawdust smoke. The temperature is 70-80 degrees, and the time is 40-60 minutes. The fish acquires a golden color and a characteristic smell.

The hot fish is removed from the rods, manually arranged in rows in tin cans (the head is removed, the tail is left). It is filled with a mixture of oil (sunflower, olive, or rapeseed) and fish broth with spices. The cans are sealed tightly and sterilized at 110-115 degrees. Herring is ready. It can be stored for up to 3 years.

Modern production is automated, but the best herring is still made on the Baltic factories, where they keep the tradition of manual arrangement.

There are also fakes. Cheap "herring" is made from frozen fish, smoked with liquid smoke, and oil is replaced with cheap vegetable oil. The taste is not the same. Genuine herring can be easily distinguished by the composition: the fish must be smoked, not flavored.

Why Herring Is a Celebration

In the Soviet Union, herring was a rarity. A can could be bought for 2-3 rubles (at an average salary of 150 rubles), but it was difficult to get. Herring was given out by coupons, it was stolen from stores. They cost more than mackerel or herring, because the technology is complex.

Herring was put on the table on New Year's Eve, March 8, anniversaries. Sandwiches with herring were made on white bread with butter, decorated with dill and a slice of lemon. This was a "French menu" for a Soviet person. Opening a can of herring meant throwing a party.

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, herring became cheaper, but the aura of festivity remained. To this day, on many memorials, weddings, birthdays, sandwiches with herring are served. It's nostalgia.

Geography of Herring: From the Baltic to Kamchatka

The best herring is made in the Baltics. Latvian "Riga Herring" is a brand known since the Soviet era. Kaliningrad factories ("Maksima," "Baltic Coast") are also famous for their quality. In Estonia, herring is made at the "Alfa-Bet" factory under the brand "Tallinn Herring."

Production of herring in Russia is concentrated in Baltiysk, Svetlom, Kaliningrad, and also in the Far East (from Pacific sprats). Far Eastern herring is different — it is fatter and larger.

In Europe, herring is made in Germany, the Netherlands, Poland. They are less fatty, often without oil — in their own juice. They are consumed as a snack with beer.

In Asia, herring is not widespread. There, they prefer mackerel, eel, squid.

Herring Invention Day: How to Celebrate

May 29 is an unofficial holiday. It is celebrated by gourmets, fish producers, culinary historians. The simplest way is to buy a can of real herring, a loaf of bread, fresh dill, and lemon. Make sandwiches. And eat with memories of childhood.

You can organize a tasting: buy herring from different brands, compare the taste, color, consistency. Real connoisseurs can distinguish "crunch" — the fish should crackle slightly on the teeth.

On the factories, sometimes excursions are organized and fresh herring from the conveyor is served on this day. Festivals of fish are held in Kaliningrad, Riga, Tallinn, where herring is the main hero. In social networks, there is a flash mob on this day: post a photo of a sandwich with herring and the hashtag #herringday. Its popularity is growing year by year.

Herring in Culture and Art

Herring is mentioned in literature. In Dovlatov's "Suitcase": "There was a can of herring, bread, and mayonnaise in the refrigerator. We made sandwiches and drank." In Pelevin's "Chapaev and the Void": "Herring was a symbol of a new life." Ustinova, Doncova, Vilmont — in dozens of detective novels, heroes are saved by a sandwich with herring.

In cinema: the classic Soviet film "Pokrovsky Gates" — the characters eat herring on the kitchen. "Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears" — a scene with a can of herring in the dormitory. In the modern series "Kitchen," herring is a constant element of the chef's sandwiches.

In painting: still lifes with a can of herring are a separate genre. Realist painters depict a tin can, a slice of lemon, a glass — it creates the atmosphere of Soviet comfort.

How to Choose Genuine Herring

Rule number one: read the composition. It should contain: Baltic sprat, oil, salt, pepper, bay leaf. Without "liquid smoke," "smoke flavoring," "identical to natural." If there is an E-number — do not take it.

Rule number two: look at the can. Not crumpled, not rusty, without swelling (bombs). The shelf life has not expired.

Rule number three: evaluate the arrangement after opening. The fish should be tightly packed, but not crumpled, in even rows. The tails are directed in one direction. The color is golden, not dark brown (a sign of over-smoking). The smell is pleasant, smoky, without sourness.

Rule number four: try. The fish should be tender but not fall apart. The oil is clean, without sediment.

The best brands in 2026 according to reviews: "Riga Herring" (Latvia), "Baltic Coast" (Kaliningrad), "Maksima" (Kaliningrad), "Za Rodinu" (Estonia), "Dobroflot" (Far East). But the prices are high — from 200 to 500 rubles per can.

Herring and Health: Benefits and Risks

Benefits: fish is rich in Omega-3 fatty acids that lower cholesterol, improve heart and brain function. Smoked sprat contains vitamins D, E, B12, selenium, iodine. Oil provides calories but also energy.

Risks: herring is salty and fatty. Hypertensive patients and people with kidney problems should limit consumption. Smoking gives carcinogens, but there are fewer of them in herring than in hot-smoked fish because the technology is gentle. Bloating, heaviness in the stomach — if eaten too much. The norm is 5-6 fish on a sandwich, not more than 1-2 times a week.

Pregnant women: better to avoid, as smoking (even proper) gives minimal traces of benzopyrene. Children under 3 years old cannot eat, after — a small piece. Diabetics: can, but without bread, only fish with vegetables.

Unusual Ways to Eat Herring

Classics: on black or white bread with butter, dill, and a slice of lemon. With hot dishes: add to the salad "Mimosa" instead of mackerel canned food. Boil soup from herring? Yes, it's called "shup," a stew of fish with potatoes.

Super idea: bake herring in tartlets with egg and cheese. Make a pate: mash the herring with a fork, mix with cottage cheese and greens. Herring in dough like pies. Herring in a sandwich with cucumber and hard cheese.

For the bold: herring ice cream? Experiments in restaurants have been, but did not catch on.

The main thing: do not overpower the taste of other products with herring. They are self-sufficient.

The Future of Herring: Ecology and Substitutes

Stocks of sprat in the Baltic Sea are decreasing due to overfishing and pollution. Scientists are sounding the alarm. More and more herring is made from small mackerel or sprat from the Atlantic. Some producers are experimenting with sprat from the Caspian — but the taste is different.

In 2026, alternatives are developing actively. Plant-based "herring" made from tofu with a smoky aroma — there are for vegans. Artificial fish on a 3D printer is still expensive.

The prices for natural herring are rising. By 2030, a shortage is predicted. Perhaps in 20 years, herring will become elite food, like black caviar. So enjoy it while there is still time.

Herring Invention Day on May 29 is a great occasion to open a can. Not to eat it up, but to remember. Remember grandmother who made sandwiches. Remember New Year's Eve in an old movie. Remember how happiness is made up of little things. Smoked, oily, golden.
© libmonster.com

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