Pickle Guide: Types, How It's Made & How to Choose Good Achar

If you have ever wondered "what is pickle?", the answer is simple. It is a raw vegetable or fruit, such as mango, lemon, garlic or chilli, that is cut, salted, mixed with spices and left to mature. The salt, spices and oil work together to keep the food from spoiling.

In India, pickle is usually called achar. It is not the same as the sweet-and-sour cucumber pickle sold in many Western countries, which is mostly kept in vinegar brine. Indian achar is spicier, deeper in flavour and often made with mustard oil or another cooking oil.

Traditional Indian pickle follows a few steps that families have repeated for generations. The method is simple, but it needs patience and care.

1. Choose and wash the produce. Fresh, firm fruit or vegetables are washed and dried fully, because water left on them can spoil the batch.
2. Cut and salt. The pieces are tossed with salt, which draws out moisture and helps keep the pickle safe.
3. Sun-dry. Many recipes use a few days of sunshine to remove extra moisture and deepen the flavour.
4. Add spices and oil. Ground spices such as turmeric, red chilli, fenugreek and mustard are mixed in, and oil is poured over to seal the pickle.
5. Let it mature. The jar rests for days or weeks so the flavours can blend.

This is how homemade pickle without preservatives works. Salt, oil, spice and sunlight do the job that chemicals do in factory products. For tips on keeping times, see our guide on how long homemade pickles last.

When people ask about the types of pickle in India, it helps to group them by style. Here are the main ones.

Some pickles belong to more than one group. A mango pickle, for example, is both a fruit pickle and usually an oil-based one.

Pickle-making follows the seasons. Summer is the big time for raw mango and lemon pickles, when the fruit is at its best and the sun is strong enough for drying. Winter brings carrots, cauliflower, turnips and fresh green chillies into the jar.

Regions have their own styles too. Mango pickle alone is made very differently in the north, south, west and east of India, with changes in oil, spice and cut. If you enjoy this, read our post on types of mango pickle in India. A classic place to start is our Traditional Mango Pickle.

Wondering how to eat pickle with meals? Think of it as a flavour booster. A small spoonful is usually enough.

• Beside dal, rice and ghee for a simple home meal.
• With parathas, rotis or thepla at breakfast or in a tiffin.
• Alongside curd rice, khichdi or plain curd.
• Inside a sandwich or wrap for a spicy kick.
• With a bite of Garlic Pickle next to a plain dal-chawal plate.

If you like heat, a Green Chilli Pickle goes well with simple flatbreads. For something tangy and bright, try Crushed Lemon Pickle with rice meals.

A good pickle has a short, clear ingredient list. Look for the main fruit or vegetable, salt, spices and oil, and not much else. Be careful with long lists of additives, artificial colours or unfamiliar chemical names.

Check the oil too. It should cover the pickle properly, smell fresh and not seem stale or greasy. The pieces should look natural, not unusually bright. Our guide to label checks before you buy walks through this in more detail.

Always use a clean, completely dry spoon. Even a little water or food on the spoon can spoil a jar. Close the lid tightly after each use.

Keep the jar in a cool, dry place away from direct heat, and make sure the pickle stays under its oil. If you see mould, a bad smell or an off taste, do not eat it. Check the label of your jar for storage advice.

FarmDidi pickles are handmade by rural women, with no chemical preservatives. They are made in small batches in the way many families have always made achar, so the flavour tastes like home. Every jar also supports the women who make it.

If you are not sure which flavour to choose, our Trial Packs let you taste a few styles together.

Ready to taste the difference? Try our Traditional Mango Pickle, Garlic Pickle, Green Chilli Pickle, Crushed Lemon Pickle or our Trial Packs.