Branston Pickle is a British jar of chopped vegetables in a dark, sweet and sour sauce. Brits eat it with cheese, mostly in sandwiches, and it's the thing that makes a cheese and pickle sandwich what it is. It's not the same as American sweet relish, which is greener, sweeter and much thinner.
What does Branston Pickle taste like?
Sweet first, then tangy. There's a savory, slightly spiced depth underneath, a bit like a chutney that's been cooked down until it's brown and sticky. The vegetables stay soft but you can still see them, which is part of the appeal.
If you've had a good barbecue sauce and a chunky relish and imagined them meeting in the middle, you're close. It's strong enough to stand up to sharp cheddar, which is the whole point. On its own it's too punchy for most people. On a sandwich it's just right.
What is Branston Pickle made of?
Chopped vegetables in a sauce built on vinegar and sugar, with spices. Expect to spot pieces of things like carrot, onion and cauliflower. The exact recipe is printed on the label, so check it if you're cooking for anyone with allergies.
The name on the jar tells you the cut. The Branston Original Pickle 360g is chunky enough that you can see what is in it. The Small Chunk version is the same pickle, just chopped finer. More on that below.
Branston Original Pickle 360g
What is Branston Pickle used for?
Mainly cheese. That's the short version. The longer version looks like this:
- Cheese and pickle sandwich. Sharp cheddar, buttered bread, a thick spoonful of pickle. It's a packed-lunch standard in Britain.
- Ploughman's lunch. A pub meal of cheese, bread, pickle and usually a bit of salad or ham, all on one plate.
- Cheese toastie. That's a grilled cheese sandwich to Americans. A layer of pickle inside turns it into something much better.
- Cold meats and pies. Ham, pork pies and cold sausages all take a spoonful happily.
- Cheese boards. Put a small bowl next to the cheddar and crackers and watch it disappear.
Some people stir a spoonful into a stew or gravy for sweetness and tang. It works, though it's a less traditional use.
Original or Small Chunk: which Branston should you buy?
They taste the same. The difference is the size of the pieces, and it matters more than you'd think.
Original is chunky. You get distinct pieces of vegetable, which is good on a cheese board or a ploughman's, where you want to see and taste the individual bits. The Branston Original Pickle 520g is the middle size, handy if you eat cheese sandwiches regularly but aren't ready to commit to the biggest jar.
Small Chunk is cut finer. It spreads more evenly and doesn't fall out of the sandwich, which is the entire argument for it. If you mostly use pickle in sandwiches and toasties, start with the Branston Small Chunk Pickle 360g.
Branston Small Chunk Pickle 360g
There's also the Branston Small Chunk Squeezy Pickle 350g, a squeezy bottle of the finer cut. It's tidier for the kitchen counter, and easier if you're making several sandwiches at once.
What is Branston Piccalilli?
Different jar, different job. Branston Piccalilli Pickle Relish 360g is the bright yellow mustard pickle, sharp and crunchy. Where the brown pickle is sweet and deep, piccalilli is tangy and fresh.
Branston Piccalilli Pickle Relish 360g
It cuts through cold meat better than anything else on the table. Ham is the classic partner. It's also good on a hot dog or a burger if you want something sharper than relish. Keep both jars in the fridge and you've got two very different pickles for the same sandwich counter.
How do you make a proper Branston pickle sandwich?
Keep it simple. The sandwich only works if each piece is doing its job.
- Butter two slices of fresh bread, white or brown. Butter matters here, so don't skip it.
- Add sharp cheddar, sliced thick or grated. Mild cheese gets lost behind the pickle.
- Spread the pickle on one side only, not both. Too much and the sandwich turns wet.
- Press it together and cut it diagonally if you want to feel properly British about it.
If the pickle keeps escaping, switch to Small Chunk. If you want crunch, add a few slices of cucumber or some lettuce. Ham and pickle is a fine variation too.
Which size jar and how much does it cost?
All three sizes come in both cuts, so you can pick by how often you'll use it. Current prices:
- Original: 360g at $6.80, 520g at $10.15, 720g at $14.95
- Small Chunk: 360g at $7.08, 520g at $10.15, 720g at $14.60
The 720g is the sensible choice for a household that goes through it. If you're new to Branston, a 360g jar is a low-risk way to find out whether you like it. We import from the UK and hold stock in our warehouse in Massachusetts, so orders ship within the USA from there. You can see every jar together in the Branston collection.
One practical tip: order a jar of piccalilli with your first pickle. Then you can try both on the same ham sandwich and see which one you reach for.
Questions people ask
What is Branston Pickle?
It's a British pickle of chopped vegetables in a dark, sweet and sour sauce. It's eaten mainly with cheese, in sandwiches and on ploughman's plates.
What is Branston Pickle made of?
Chopped vegetables, such as carrot, onion and cauliflower, in a sauce of vinegar, sugar and spices. Check the label on the jar for the exact recipe and any allergens.
What does Branston Pickle taste like?
Sweet and tangy with a savory, lightly spiced depth. It's closer to a chutney than to American sweet relish.
What is Branston Pickle used for?
Mostly cheese and pickle sandwiches, cheese toasties (grilled cheese), ploughman's lunches and cheese boards. It also goes well with cold meats and pies.
What is the difference between Branston Original and Small Chunk?
The flavor is the same. Original has bigger pieces of vegetable, while Small Chunk is cut finer so it spreads more evenly and stays in a sandwich.
What is Branston Piccalilli?
It's a bright yellow, crunchy mustard pickle that's sharper and fresher than the brown pickle. It's especially good with ham and other cold meats.
