Composition: Main ingredients are vegetables or fruits, salt, vinegar or brine, and spices like mustard, chili, and turmeric. Types: Vegetable pickles – cucumber, carrot, cauliflower, mixed vegetables. Fruit pickles – mango, lemon, lime, or gooseberry. Regional variations – Indian achar, Korean kimchi, Japanese tsukemono. Uses: Accompaniment to meals, flavor enhancer, and condiment. Health Notes: Contains probiotics if fermented naturally, may aid digestion; high salt content in some varieties. Form: Whole pieces, slices, or pastes stored in jars or bottles.