Mussels from their own rafts: buy Ramón Franco preserves

Ramón Franco started out farming mussels on the rafts (bateas) of the Ría de Arousa and, after a decade on the water, opened his cannery in 1961 in Punta Saleira, A Pobra do Caramiñal. Being both mussel farmer and canner is what sets it apart: it controls the mussel from the moment it grows until it goes into the tin. If you want to buy Ramón Franco preserves, here are their sizes and their other tins.

The mussel, one by one

The mussels are washed and cleaned by hand, piece by piece, to keep them whole, and preserved in a traditional escabeche of olive oil, wine vinegar and spices. It is a balanced escabeche that lets the mussel's flavour lead.

Their range

• Giant mussels: 3/4, 4/6 and 6/8 pieces, the biggest from the raft.
• Large and medium mussels: 7/10, 8/12 and 12/16 pieces, for the everyday aperitif.
• Spicy: mussels in spicy escabeche, 20/25 pieces.
• Caramiñas: their line of mussels in escabeche, 11/17 pieces, regular or spicy, at a very good price.
• Other tins: queen scallops in scallop sauce, sardines in olive oil, tuna belly and baby horse mackerel in escabeche.

Before serving

At room temperature, straight from the tin, with bread to dip in the escabeche and some crisps. It is the king of vermouth hour. To compare sizes from other brands, see our collection of mussels in escabeche.

Add your favourite tins to the basket and receive them in 24-48 hours.