Where did pickles originally come from?

There’s an ongoing debate about the origin of pickles. But did you know that the first pickling in India traces back to the Tigris valley?

Pickling as a food preservation technique was followed by communities in present day Wayanad, Kerala. Back then, people used salt and brine to preserve food for their long journeys. Cucumber, native to India, was first pickled here and that’s where our story began!

History of Indian Pickles

Like any other cultural practice, pickling was documented by several travellers and historians across time. Indian pickles have a cultural history dating back to almost 4000 years. It has been a common practice across different cultures even within India, with each language having a word for it. 

Some records even argue that pickling originated in India. “If a mango falls to the ground while still green and unripe, the locals will salt it to preserve it, much like how we do with lemons. They also pickle green ginger and peppercorn pods, both of which they eat with their meals.” reads the records of Ibn Batuta, traveller and writer who wrote about the Mughals in India. Sounds like even our ancestors could not resist the irresistible appeal of cut mango pickle, doesn’t it?

Types of Indian Pickles

Literary sources dating back to the 16th Century mention at least 50 different types of pickles just in South India! But everything was made out of the same recipe, right? Wrong! Each pickle can be put into one of these categories

• Sweet & sour pickles: The fructose compounds packed into the fruit that is being pickled is slowly released over time, which gives the pickle a delectable sweet & sour taste! Have a quick serving of our lemon pickle and you’ll know how it really feels!
• Spicy pickles: Not surprisingly, this is the most common type of pickle made across the country (Talk about a country of spice lovers)! Add a bit of our  to cut mango pickle your next meal and you’ll find yourself experiencing different flavours unravelling themselves effortlessly! 
• Raw pickles: A crude pickle made by salting and sun-drying vegetables. Our ancestors’ recipe books say that any vegetable can be made into a pickle this way!

Apart from all this, pickle making has been a community event since so long! It was traditionally done only by the women in the family and it served as a way for them to work together, plan ahead and in that process bond with each other!