Mango ( आम )
Jackfruit ( कटहल )
Lemon ( नींबू )
Chilli ( मिर्च )
Gooseberry ( आंवला )
Garlic ( लहसुन )
Ginger ( अदरक )
Carrot ( गाजर )
Bitter Gourd ( करेला )
Ker Sangri ( केर सांगरी )
The best pickle brand is the one whose jar passes your checks. Look at the oil, preservatives, salt and sugar, and check who actually made it. A pickle that's perfect for one family may be wrong for another, so this guide gives you a checklist rather than a ranking.
Use these 8 checks on any jar, from any brand, and you'll know what you're buying in under a minute.
Why "best" depends on what you need
A diabetic needs an unsweetened pickle. A Jain family needs one without garlic or onion. Someone watching their cholesterol cares about the oil. And everyone wants it to taste like home.
So instead of asking "which brand is best?", ask "which jar is best for me?" The checklist below helps you answer that.
The 8 label checks
1. Is the oil named?
A good label says exactly which oil was used, such as mustard oil, sunflower oil or groundnut oil. "Edible vegetable oil" on its own tells you nothing. For heart-friendly choices, read Is achar good for cholesterol?
2. Are there Class II preservatives?
Scan the ingredient list for INS numbers in the 200s, and a line saying "Contains permitted Class II preservative". Traditional pickles don't need them, because salt, oil and spices do the work. Our guide Decoding preservatives: natural vs synthetic explains the difference.
3. Where is salt on the list?
Ingredients are listed by weight. If salt is near the top, the pickle is very salty. Keep that in mind if you watch your blood pressure.
4. Is there added sugar?
Sweet pickles like chunda and sweet mango pickle contain sugar or jaggery. That's part of their taste, but diabetics should choose unsweetened pickles. Read Is achar good for diabetes?
5. Handmade or factory-made?
Handmade pickles are made in small batches, often sun-cured, with whole spices. Factory pickles are made in large tanks for a long shelf life. Neither is unsafe, but the taste is very different.
6. Can you tell who made it, and where?
The best brands tell you where the ingredients come from and who made the pickle. Traceability is a sign the brand stands behind its jar.
7. Are there clear storage instructions?
A good label tells you the shelf life and how to store the pickle: use a clean, dry spoon, keep the jar closed, and refrigerate after opening if needed.
8. Is it true to its region?
An Andhra avakaya should be fiery, a Gujarati chunda sweet and tangy, a Punjabi mango pickle bold with mustard oil and kalonji. Check whether the brand respects the original recipe.
The best pickle for your need
| Your need | What to look for | FarmDidi pick |
|---|---|---|
| Diabetes | Unsweetened, ideally bitter gourd | Bitter Gourd (Karela) Pickle |
| Less oil | Oil-free pickles and chutneys | Oil Free range |
| Jain diet | No onion, garlic or root vegetables | Jain Friendly collection |
| Classic taste | Traditional mango pickle in mustard oil | Mango Pickles collection |
| Winter | Garlic, carrot and other winter produce | Winter Pickles collection |
| Can't decide | Try several small jars first | Trial Packs |
Where FarmDidi fits
FarmDidi started with a simple idea: pickles taste best when they're homemade, and nobody makes them better than rural women who learned the recipes from their mothers. Today, a community of over 1,500 rural women makes our pickles by hand, in small batches, without chemical preservatives. Read our story.
Our product pages name the oil each pickle is made with, and our Mango Chunda was featured on Shark Tank India. But don't take our word for it. Put any FarmDidi jar through the 8 checks above.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best pickle brand in India?
Answer: There's no single answer. The best brand for you is one that names its oil, avoids Class II preservatives, suits your health needs, and tastes like home. Use the 8 checks above to compare.
Which pickle is best for health?
Answer: Pickles made with a named, good-quality oil, moderate salt and no chemical preservatives, eaten in small amounts. Bitter gourd and amla pickles are popular health-conscious choices.
Which mango pickle is best?
Answer: It depends on your taste. North Indian mango pickle is tangy with mustard oil. Andhra avakaya is fiery. Gujarati chunda is sweet and tangy. Explore the Mango Pickles collection.
Are homemade pickles better than factory pickles?
Answer: Homemade pickles usually use fewer additives and traditional methods. Their taste is closer to what you grew up with. Factory pickles are made for very long shelf life.
Try before you commit: our Trial Packs let you taste several FarmDidi pickles at once.
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