Razor Clams in Olive Oil

Lota is a Canadian conservas brand canned in Portugal — a project built on the craft tradition of the Iberian canning industry and a Canadian vision for bringing premium preserved seafood to a North American audience. This tin is among the most prized in the range: razor clams — navalhas in Portuguese — are one of the great delicacies of the Atlantic coast, and one of the most sought-after shellfish in the Iberian conservas tradition.

Razor clams take their name from their long, narrow shell, which resembles a straight razor. Found in the sandy coastal beds of the Atlantic, they are sweeter and more delicate in flavour than most other clams — clean and oceanic, with a tenderness that, when preserved correctly in good olive oil, becomes something exceptional. The canning process softens the clam slightly while preserving its character, and the olive oil becomes deeply flavoured with the briny sweetness of the shellfish.