Gaby
No standard spoon can fit through the narrow opening of a glass jar of capers. And if you transfer them to another container, you’ll have to sacrifice that special brine.
At best, you can manage to extract three or four at a time. However, any recipe that calls for capers typically requires at least a dozen of these buds.
Capers are the unopened flower buds of the caper bush (Capparis spinosa), which thrives in Mediterranean countries. This hardy shrub feels most at home on rocky terrain under the scorching sun. Freshly picked capers are extremely bitter. But long ago, someone first dried them in a boat with sea salt and then rehydrated them. These buds, loved for their vibrant flavor, are usually pickled, brined, or dried. Capers are primarily used as a seasoning or flavor enhancer.
One possible explanation for their packaging: capers are expensive, so producers sell them in tiny jars. This makes the product more accessible. However, the reason for packaging the buds in such an inconvenient container is much deeper, experts claim.
Why are the jars so narrow?
Some manufacturers assert that this shape helps keep capers fresh for as long as possible, as they are submerged in brine.
There’s another theory, more profit-oriented. According to Jeff Mezzetta, president of a private California caper company, “narrow jars look better.” However, such a jar lacks practical value. Moreover, the taller and thinner it is, the more challenging it becomes to pack the product. On production lines, these jars often tip over. The narrow opening creates an additional problem, says Mr. Mezzetta.
Despite this, many marketers argue that this type of packaging has a more elegant appearance. So, producers interested in profit cater to this preference.
The Psychology of Supermarkets
From the perspective of retail chain owners, a product must not only be well-packaged and fresh but also affordable.
Although capers are pricey and not a staple in most refrigerators, their sales are rising globally, reports CNN. This is partly due to a decrease in the price per unit, particularly thanks to the tiny jar. But why is it not only small but also narrow?
Recently, while strolling through the soda aisle, you might have noticed that bottles have become taller. Yet, the volume of the beverage remains unchanged.
“Consumers perceive slim cans as more sophisticated, which allows them to feel more refined,” noted Dwayne Stanford, editor of the industry trade publication Beverage Digest.
Kitchen Hacks
The primary reason capers cost more than one might expect is the significant labor costs involved. The vast majority of capers sold in supermarkets are harvested by hand. The smaller the bud, the more expensive it is, as well as tastier and more delicate. The smallest capers measure about three millimeters in length, while the largest reach 13 mm.
Perhaps customers should also pay for their efforts in fishing capers out of those tricky jars?
Chefs and culinary experts recommend using a long metal bar spoon or a measuring spoon, which is significantly smaller than a teaspoon. You can also use an old-fashioned potato peeler or kitchen tweezers.
And if these tedious exercises become tiresome, there’s probably no simpler solution than using the entire contents of the jar at once.
What Can You Make with Capers?
Italians add capers to pasta, pizza, liver pâté, as well as stewed fish, chicken, and veal. Capers are essential in caponata—a vegetable stew primarily featuring eggplant.
French chefs love capers in various sauces, spreads, and salads. For Greek gourmets, capers are a fitting addition to Greek salad, forgive the tautology. And Spaniards enjoy how these buds taste when paired with seafood.
In any case, capers can truly be added to most dishes in our regular diet—even simple mashed potatoes. The key is not to overdo it. After all, too many capers can overpower the flavors of the main ingredients.
