Pickles: they are green, crunchy, and sour vegetables. Some people love them, and some people hate them. To better understand this divide, we have to understand what a pickle is. A pickle is usually a smaller cucumber that is sliced and pickled in a brine or vinegar solution. Pickling has been around for thousands of years, but pickles themselves became more popular in 1659 when a Dutch farmer in New York began his very own pickling industry (www.history.com). 

Fast forward 364 years, and there is a large gap between the people that love pickles and the people that do not. The people that love pickles eat them passionately while the pickle haters stand from afar and watch in horror. So why do some people not like pickles? “Pickles are good on a burger, but they can not be eaten alone. You don’t eat ketchup alone; why would you do the same to pickles?” shares James Vas (11). Many argue that pickles are meant to be eaten with something as opposed to on their own, and even then, the pickles must be eaten in a small and moderate amount.  “I like the sound of the crunch when other people eat them, but I don’t like how they’re sour. I agree; I think that pickles should only be on hamburgers,” says Ashley Tsai (11). 

Pickles are something that everyone should look forward to and get to experience eating them: the juicy sensation, the sweetness, and the spiciness. On the other hand, a few students at Yorba Linda are very passionate about pickles. “Coming home after a long day at school and getting to eat a nice, crunchy, and crisp pickle has to be the best part of my day. I think the best part about pickles is that they can go with almost anything,” shares Chloe Skagen (11). Another student, Emily Amaya (11), states, “Growing up, my mom always had pickles in the house so I grew up eating them.  I think that’s why I like pickles so much, and because they just taste good.” 

That leads to the question, what type of pickle is the best pickle? After conducting an experiment with four different kinds of pickles, it  was deemed that Famous Dave’s Sweet ‘n Spicy Pickle Chips came in first place, Signature Select Bread  and Butter came in second place, Mt. Olive Hamburger Chips  in third, and Signature Select Kosher Dill pickle spears came in fourth.