Dill Pickles vs Kosher Dill Pickles: What's the Difference?

Walk down the pickle aisle and you'll almost certainly come across both dill pickles and kosher dill pickles. At first glance they appear identical. They're both green. They're both crunchy (or at least they should be). And they both feature dill as a key ingredient.

So what exactly makes a kosher dill pickle different from a dill pickle?

The answer is surprisingly simple. The difference usually isn't the pickle. It's the garlic.

What is a Dill Pickle?

A dill pickle is a cucumber that's been preserved in a vinegar brine and flavoured with dill. Dill is a feathery herb with a fresh, slightly grassy flavour that has become synonymous with pickles, particularly in North America.

The classic dill pickle flavour profile is:

• Tangy
• Fresh
• Herbaceous
• Slightly salty

Dill pickles are arguably the most recognisable style of pickle in the world and form the backbone of countless burgers, sandwiches and deli meals. If someone asks for "a pickle", there's a good chance they're expecting a dill pickle.

What is a Kosher Dill Pickle?

Traditionally, many kosher dill pickles were naturally fermented, although most supermarket versions today are vinegar pickled. Despite what many people assume, a kosher dill pickle isn't necessarily made using kosher preparation methods. Instead, the term originated from New York's Jewish delis, where garlic became a defining feature of traditional dill pickle recipes. 

As a result, a kosher dill pickle is generally:

• A dill pickle
• Plus garlic

The addition of garlic gives kosher dill pickles a deeper, more savoury flavour profile than a standard dill pickle. While the dill remains important, the garlic often becomes equally prominent.

Where do they sit in the Pickle Universe?

On the Pickle Universe map, they occupy very similar territory, with the kosher dill sitting just a little further towards the savoury end of the spectrum. Both styles sit within the vinegar pickled family. However:

Dill Pickles

• More balanced
• Slightly cleaner
• Herb-focused

Kosher Dill Pickles

• More savoury
• Garlic-focused
• Slightly more intense

 Final Thoughts

The good news is the world has room for both dill pickles and kosher dill pickles. A great dill pickle can be a thing of beauty. A great kosher dill pickle can be even better.

The important thing is knowing what you're buying before the first bite. Because there's nothing worse than expecting a classic dill pickle and getting smacked in the face with a mouthful of garlic.

Well, unless it's a fluorescent yellow packet pickle. That's probably worse.