Taste Test: Michigan Dill Pickles

Hour Media evaluates five local favorites on the basis of texture, taste, and tang
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Photograph by EE Berger

Michigan has an odd affinity for pickles. The state produces more pickled cucumbers than anywhere else in the nation. And it鈥檚 not just the edible ones that capture our fancy. Berrien Springs on the state鈥檚 west side claims to be the 鈥淐hristmas听Pickle听Capital of the World鈥 鈥 honoring a holiday tradition (for some) to hide a pickle-shaped ornament in their trees. With so much pickle pride in one state, Michigan pickle makers have to be great to stand out from the crowd. We tested five favorite Michigan brands to see who headed up the pickle preference pack.


1st Place
While this was one of the closest (and most divisive) taste tests we鈥檝e ever hosted, Tall Paul鈥檚 pickles pulled ahead by a handful of points. Judges commented most on the pickle鈥檚 crisp texture and crunch, paired with a subtle sour flavor. Tall Paul鈥檚 Pickles,

2nd Place听
A unique combination of spices propelled Safie鈥檚 deli-style dill pickles into 2nd place. 鈥淸It] has a nutmeg-y, peppery thing going on,鈥 writes one reviewer. 鈥淚鈥檓 into it!鈥 While the herbal flavor wasn鈥檛 for every tester, the snappy taste sealed its rank, even if only by a sprig of dill. Safie鈥檚 Deli Style Dill Pickles,

3rd Place
Since the 1940s, Vlasic (founded in Imlay City) has been churning out Polish pickles 鈥斕齛nd now boasts that it鈥檚 鈥淎merica鈥檚 Favorite Pickle.鈥 The classic dill spear favorite is definitely an 鈥渆veryman鈥檚 pickle,鈥 landing right in the middle of our ranks. 鈥淭astes like a typical dill pickle,鈥 writes one reviewer. 鈥淕ood crunch, not too sour.鈥 What more could you really want? Vlasic Kosher Dill Spears,

Honorable Mentions

Most Sour
While the McClure鈥檚 Pickles brand鈥檚 spicy pickles and Bloody Mary mixes are crowd favorites, the classic garlic dill variety fell slightly behind the pack. Still, the pickle ranked as the most sour of all the tested varieties, making it a favorite for some. 鈥淚t had a good crunch with a sour punch,鈥 writes a taste tester. McClure鈥檚 Garlic and Dill Spears,

Most Controversial
While controversial isn鈥檛 a term you would usually associate with pickles, cult favorite Topor鈥檚 Pickles fits the bill. The dills are fermented without vinegar, creating a briney pickle with a tingly mouthfeel. For some, this was jarring; for others, it was exactly what a pickle should be. 鈥淲onderful on all counts,鈥 rated one reviewer. Topor鈥檚 Dill Pickles,