The capers are full of brine and vinegar alone. I don’t want too much taste of brine and vinegar when I cook with them, or when I use them raw to go along with smoked salmon, or smoked clams with lemon juice. So I give them a wash so that I only taste the brine and vinegar contained within the capers.
I don’t recall what brand I bought but I didn’t find that they tasted to much of vinegar and brine. Like I said to me it seemed they had a bit of a nutty flavor.
But thereagain I have been craving salty things. :-)