Caballa de Andalucía

Preserved mackerel fillets produced by non-industrial methods in designated Andalusian coastal municipalities, using fish of the species Scomber japonicus and Scomber colias. Fillets are skinned by hand without chemicals and packed in salted water, olive oil, or sunflower oil in tins or glass jars. The designation is registered as a PGI under file number PGI-ES-0281.

About this designation

Caballa de Andalucía is a PGI registered on 19 March 2003 under file number PGI-ES-0281 (eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013756), covering preserved mackerel fillets produced by non-industrial methods traditional in Andalusia. The raw material is fish of the species Scomber japonicus and Scomber colias, both of the genus Scomber, which have a spindle-shaped and elongate body, a pointed snout, and a thin caudal peduncle, and normally measure between 20 and 30 cm. The fish are skinned by hand without the use of chemicals. The permitted liquid media are salted water with less than 1 % salt, olive oil, and sunflower oil. Three varieties are marketed, differing by liquid medium, and are packed in round or rectangular tins or glass jars. Production is confined to named municipalities across the Provinces of Almería, Cádiz, Granada, Huelva, and Málaga. Each unit of packaging must bear a numbered label issued by the Consejo Regulador de las IGPs «Caballa de Andalucía» y «Melva de Andalucía», affixed at the packaging stage in a manner that prevents reuse. Individual producer labels must display prominently the words 'Indicación Geográfica Protegida', the name 'Caballa de Andalucía', and the European Union logo.

Source: The register document this entry was written from · retrieved August 26, 2026

Distinctive facts

• Registered as a PGI on 19 March 2003 under file number PGI-ES-0281, eAmbrosia identifier EUGI00000013756.
• The specification permits only Scomber japonicus and Scomber colias as raw material; no other species is permitted.
• Skinning is carried out by hand without the use of chemicals; the specification names this as a required step.
• Every package must bear a numbered label issued by the Consejo Regulador, affixed so that it cannot be reused.

Tasting notes

Andalusian mackerel IGP from Cádiz-Huelva, traditional canning. Distinctive grey-blue dorsal pattern, firm flesh, robust oily-fish flavor.

HoReCa use

Andalusian tapas; in caballa con tomate; on toast.

Packaging

• can-tin-fillets-115g
• can-tin-fillets-160g
• glass-jar-200g