Tinned fish is swimming against the tide
Once a staple of wartime diets, it is now a social-media phenomenon
Mei Liao pulls back the can’s lid to reveal sardines swimming in a garlic and herb butter. In other videos she stuffs russet-coloured smoked mackerel into a sandwich or arranges sprats with capers and cucumber. Ms Liao says tinned fish is often considered “akin to cat food or bunker food”. But, posting as @daywithmei, she has turned it into a viral treat: her videos have millions of views on TikTok.
Culture August 3rd 2024
From the August 3rd 2024 edition
Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents
Explore the editionMore from Culture
History podcasts are booming
Why listening to stories about the past are a present pastime
“Deadpool & Wolverine” is revolting, but popular
The film has had the highest-grossing opening of an R-rated film
Slow down: longer races offer fans more than sprints do
Middle- and long-distance races have a drama that short ones cannot match
We enjoyed reading these books on holiday. You might, too
A selection of titles chosen by The Economist’s journalists
A moving memoir probes the contradictions of modern China
Edward Wong narrates his father’s journey from servant of the party to escapee
Few writers have seen America more clearly than James Baldwin
A century after his birth, Baldwin remains one of the country’s most important authors