Unveiling the Enigma: The Puzzling Case of Tiny Capers in Petite Jars

Some bad design decisions seem to stick around for no apparent reason. For example, buying a pair of scissors that are impossible to access because they are enclosed in a hard plastic shell that requires scissors to open. Another instance is the Apple mouse, which has its charging port on the underside, making it unusable while charging.

These frustrations don't necessarily make a product terrible; they are just annoying. These small annoyances can make you wonder, "Why did they do that?"

Trying to get capers out of a glass jar can be a real struggle. The openings are too narrow for a standard spoon, and pouring them out can result in losing the brine. Even if you have a tiny utensil, it's still a challenge to fish out more than a few capers at a time. And recipes often call for more than just a few capers, leading to frustration. This is a common annoyance in modern life - trying to get enough capers out of those tiny jars they come in.

The short, unsatisfying answer? Capers are expensive, so producers sell them in smaller jars to make each unit more affordable. But the reason for tall jars instead of squat ones is a longer story.

The skinny on capers

Capers are actually the unripened buds of the prickly caper bush, known as Capparis spinosa. If left to ripen, they turn into caper berries, similar to olives. This bush thrives best in rocky cliffs with plenty of sun in the Mediterranean region.

Capers are typically picked by hand, then dried out in salt or pickled in a vinegar solution.

Capers are typically picked by hand, then dried out in salt or pickled in a vinegar solution.

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Straight from the vine, capers start off extremely bitter. However, at some point in history, someone decided to take these almost inedible buds, dry them out with sea salt, and then rehydrate them.

After being cured and pickled, capers transform into tiny salt bombs that are ideal for adding to a niçoise salad or a chicken piccata. While it may not be a crime to order a lox bagel in New York City without capers, it definitely should be.

Why such narrow jars?

A definitive explanation for the svelte glass jar that they come in is hard to come by. Major caper purveyors Cento and Goya did not respond to requests for comment.

Reddit users often believe that tall, skinny glass jars help keep capers fresh by keeping them submerged in brine. Russell Zwanka, the director of the food marketing program at Western Michigan University, also supports this theory.

"I completely understand how frustrating it can be when a spoon doesn't fit properly, and unfortunately, I don't have a solution for that," Zwanka expressed. "It's puzzling to me why they can't simply make it just half an inch larger."

A standard spoon is no match for a skinny, 3.5-ounce caper jar. A narrow measuring spoon, if you have one, works well.

A standard spoon is no match for a skinny, 3.5-ounce caper jar. A narrow measuring spoon, if you have one, works well.

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Jeff Mezzetta, the president of Mezzetta, a California food label known for its capers, has a profit-focused theory. He believes that skinny jars, which his company uses for their products, simply look more appealing.

The skinny jar doesn't offer much practical value, especially for producers. In fact, it's even less practical from their perspective.

According to Mezzetta, packaging taller and thinner jars is more challenging. They tend to tip over on production lines and the smaller opening makes it harder to fill the jars. Mezzetta, who loves garnishes so much that he named his black Labrador Caper, shared this insight.

His take: “It’s primarily because some marketer feels that they’re going to look more elegant on the shelf.”

There are sound economics behind that theory.

Supermarket psychology

Food packaging does a lot of different things, Zwanka says. It of course keeps food fresh, prevents waste and makes sure the product can be shipped efficiently.

"We want to ensure that products remain affordable," he mentioned.

Due to the high cost of capers and their limited popularity in American households, food companies often choose to use smaller jars to lower the cost per unit for consumers, even though sales are increasing, as reported by Mezzetta.

Zwanka also encounters a packaging issue with saffron, which is known as one of the most costly spices globally. It can be disappointing to purchase a jar for $18 at the grocery store, only to find a few small strings inside.

Capparis spinosa, growing on a high cliff in Malta.

Popular ways to extract capers, according to Reddit: Use an old-fashioned potato peeler, chef’s tweezers, a tiny melon baller or a wide-mouth boba straw.

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"You need a jar that fits in the spice rack," he explains. "But you shouldn't fill it up, or it will cost you $200."

For those who only use a few capers annually, a small jar that can easily fit in the fridge is the practical choice for many. Prices may differ, but typically a 3-ounce jar will cost around $4 at the grocery store.

Still, you might wonder: Why is it a that jar so tall and narrow you need a nail file to stab at the tiny green orbs?

Blame the success of Skinny Can Chic.

Have you noticed the recent trend of beverage cans slimming down in the soda aisle? They now hold the same 12 ounces of liquid in a more slender package.

According to Duane Stanford, editor of industry publication Beverage Digest, many consumers perceive slim cans as more sophisticated. This makes them feel more sophisticated as they choose their drinks.

In the beer aisle, Zwanka points out that a similar trend is taking place. He mentions that many brands have followed Red Bull's lead by adopting the slim can design. This design is used to convey a sense of being thinner, lighter, lower in calories, and possibly healthier.

Kitchen hacks

Capers may seem expensive because labor costs play a big part in their price. Most capers in stores come from wild plants in countries like Morocco, Tunisia, Greece, and Turkey, where they are handpicked.

"It takes about an hour to pick a kilo if you're really quick," shared Brian Noone, the owner of a wholesale caper plant nursery in Adelaide, South Australia. He also mentioned that there's a common misconception that smaller capers taste better, but in reality, it requires more effort to harvest the smaller ones known as "non-pareils."

Capparis spinosa, growing on a high cliff in Malta.

domeniko/iStockphoto/Getty Images

Once the ants make their way into your kitchen, you can try out some tricks to get rid of them from the jar.

There is a Reddit page dedicated to the annoying task titled: "Removing capers from those annoyingly narrow jars."

For those looking for helpful tips and tricks from Redditors, here are some suggestions:

Consider using a long metal bar spoon or a half-teaspoon measuring spoon. Other useful utensils that are commonly recommended include an old fashioned potato peeler, chef’s tweezers, a tiny melon baller, and a wide-mouth boba straw.

“I use a tiny fork. Like the kind for shrimp cocktail or crab,” offers one user.

“Korean dessert fork for me! It’s a tiny fork head on a long chopstick-shaped handle,” says another.

Perhaps the easiest solution is to simply use all of the ingredients and not hold back.

One Redditor shared, "I always end up using the entire small jar whenever I cook."

Editor's P/S:

The article highlights the frustration associated with the packaging of capers. Despite its high price, capers are often sold in small, tall, and narrow jars, making it difficult to retrieve the contents. While the tall jars are believed to keep capers fresh, the small opening poses a challenge when trying to scoop them out with a standard spoon.

Producers justify the use of these jars based on aesthetic appeal and lower production costs. They argue that the slim design looks more elegant on shelves and that packaging taller and thinner jars is less practical. However, consumers are left with a frustrating experience when they struggle to retrieve the capers, leading to the search for creative solutions like using metal bar spoons, measuring spoons, and even wide-mouth boba straws. Ultimately, the article suggests that the packaging of capers is driven more by marketing considerations than by practicality, leaving consumers to find workarounds to access the product.