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One thing about me – I would do nearly anything for a pickle. I grew up eating Claussen pickles in bulk. I affectionately called them “pooks”, since “pickle” was too difficult to say at the tender age of three. Set me up with a pickle and a Berenstain Bears book? Fuhgeddaboudit. I am officially in my element and no one can stop me.
What I’m trying to say is: I am a pickle aficionado.
The problem is, up until recently, my pickle knowledge was pretty much only limited to Claussen, with the occasional Vlasic thrown in (in a desperate pinch). Within the last few years, I’ve seen plenty of small-batch pickle brands pop up with new and funky flavors, and I’ve gone out on a limb to try a few (be on the lookout for those reviews later). The latest brand to catch my eye was Jersey Pickles, and while their pickle selection looked delish… I zeroed in on their Hot Pickled Tomatoes.
It didn’t take much for me to pop onto their website and place an order for a quart of hot pickled tomatoes, and a half gallon of their garlic pickle spears. After shipping, my total was $38.62 – a bit pricier than my Kroger Claussen’s, but hey. It was worth a try.
My order was placed on November 20th, 2024, and after stalking my UPS man, the glorious pickle package was on my doorstep three days later (November 23rd). Already off to a good start.
Taste Test and First Impressions
I figured I should exercise some sort of restraint and wait for my tomatoes to chill before tearing into them, and while that was a painful few hours, I highly recommend it. Just like soda or any other cool item, it just tastes better when chilled.
These. Things. Are. Amazing.
The spice! The crunch! The brine! Everything was stellar. The spice took me by surprise – the type of spice that causes immediate hiccups and a few seconds of unpredictable coughing. It was sensational. Even my partner, who is a bit harder to impress, remarked how good these tomatoes are (through fits of clearing his throat and puckering his face). The pickle chips floating around were just as delicious – super crunchy and packed with flavor. My mouth is watering just thinking about them. While I might not seek out the brine after a hot day or a strenuous workout (like my bae Claussen), I certainly won’t shy away from a sip here and there. It will not go to waste!
Perhaps my favorite thing about these tomatoes is the crunch. The thought of biting into a soggy tomato is not too appealing, but these were crunchy like little apples. Super fresh! At the peak of their little pickled lives!
Hot Pickled Tomatoes – The Verdict
It takes a lot to pull this girl away from her Claussen’s pickles. I’ve been in a strict monogamous relationship with Claussen’s for over three decades, but maaaan… these hot pickled tomatoes from Jersey Pickles are really testing my faithfulness.
Taste: 10/10 – as mentioned, the spice was amazing. The brine wasn’t too salty, and the crunch was perfect. There was no strong taste of tomato – in fact, if I had tasted these blindfolded, I might not have known they were tomatoes in the first place.
Value: 7/10 – this is easily the lowest score of the entire review. These things are pricy. Even with a near $10 discount, it was still almost $40 for these tomatoes and the other item in my order. There were about 5 or 6 tomatoes in the quart size – not too many, all things considered, so I’m pretty happy they threw the pickle chips in there to balance everything out. Yes, shipping was quick – but for the price ($10.88 for UPS Ground), it better be. And while I understand small-batch shipping is a bit more expensive, it will definitely affect how frequently I can purchase from this brand. But here’s a plus: there’s usually a coupon code floating around to cut into the price a bit.
Offerings: 10/10 – their website has so many different options for both tomatoes and pickles. They even have garlic stuffed olives (!!!) which is definitely on my list to try, along with the sweet horseradish pickles. I’ll be busy for a while working my way through their list of products. Not a fan of spice? No problem! They have a wide range of palate pleasing flavors to choose from. And if you don’t feel like placing an order through their website, good news! They have an Amazon Storefront as well! Woohoo!
Overall Rating: 9/10
Do I recommend this product? Ohhh yes! The flavor is so unique and memorable, it’s worth the higher price tag. I might not be able to splurge as frequently as I’d like, but every once in a while, I can work it into my budget.
Have Y’all Tried This?
I’ve seen Jersey Pickles everywhere on social media – they have successfully infiltrated my Facebook and Instagram feeds, so it was only a matter of time before I took the plunge. Well played, Jersey Pickles, well played. Hook, line, and sinker.
What is your favorite product from this brand? If you haven’t tried anything yet, let me know what looks good! Comment and let me know your other pickle brand recommendations. We can drool over the briny goodness together.
Until next time,
Megan
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