Buzz
Written by Dylan Lehotsky
In the United States, whenever you order a sandwich, it almost always comes with an unspoken side— the pickle. But why is this? How did the pickle become so deeply rooted in our deli culture? Even Tevye, the character from Fiddler on the Roof, questioned it. What is the origin of the pickle, and more importantly, why is it a staple with every sandwich?
Pickles date back thousands of years, with their origins as a delicacy going as far back as 2400 BC. However, they truly gained popularity in the U.S. when Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe arrived in New York. These immigrants brought their unique style of deli sandwiches, and Jewish delis began using pickles as a palate cleanser. The pickle’s acidity provides a sharp contrast, helping to highlight the distinct flavors of the sandwich. While it’s unclear which deli first paired the pickle with a sandwich, the practice quickly became widespread beyond Jewish delis.
The pickle's popularity spread throughout New York, and by the 1930s, entrepreneurs became pickle vendors in the Lower East Side. In fact, there were famous “Pickle Wars” where vendors battled for control of the sour sensation market. Today, New York even hosts a pickle festival every October to celebrate this iconic food.
Once the pickle became a New York staple, the tradition of pairing it with a deli sandwich grew in popularity and soon became a go-to, easy-to-serve side dish across the U.S. In fact, the pickle is now the most common side served with sandwiches, making up the majority of all pickle consumption. It has become such a norm that restaurants no longer list it on their menus. Originally a Jewish tradition, the pickle has transformed into a deli essential found on nearly every sandwich plate across America.
