Sardine has been present in meals in the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. It is believed that the Phoenicians and later the Romans salted, guarded and transported this product to all over the empire. The consumption of this fish trough all the centuries led to the fact, at the beginning of the 20th century, there were around 400 factories in our country, with Portugal reaching an important position in the export of canned sardines by the time of the Great War. Even today, sardines play a proeminente role both in Portuguese cuisine and as an export product.