Indian Culture

Achar

Achar is Indian pickle: fruit or vegetables preserved with salt and spices such as fenugreek, mustard seeds and chilli, often in oil.1,2,3

Also known as Indian pickle, Mango pickle

Achar is fruit or vegetables pickled the way it is done in India: with salt and spices, often in oil.1,2,3 Typical spices are fenugreek, mustard seeds, turmeric and chilli.2,3 Common choices are mango, lime, green chilli or carrot, also mixed; some ready-made kinds also contain acetic acid.2,3 The word comes from Persian, and a cookbook from the reign of the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb already lists achar.1,4

What is achar made of?

Fruit or vegetables preserved with salt and spices, often in oil. The pack of Pachranga mixed pickle lists mango, lime, green chillies, salt, cottonseed oil, carrot and spices such as fenugreek and fennel.1,2,3

What is achar called in English?

Indian pickle. Merriam-Webster defines achar as a pickled food as prepared in India, a pickle or relish.1

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Sources

  1. Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). achar. In Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  2. Tamil Nadu Agricultural University. (n.d.). Post Harvest Technology: Mango. TNAU Agritech Portal. Retrieved October 6, 2026.
  3. Indian Culture: Pachranga Mixed Pickle in Oil (Acchar): ingredients on the pack.
  4. Antani, V. & Mahapatra, S. (2022). Evolution of Indian cuisine: a socio-historical review. Journal of Ethnic Foods, 9, 15. DOI: 10.1186/s42779-022-00129-4

Cite this entry

MLA

“Achar.” Indian Culture Glossary, Indian Culture, https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/achar.

Chicago

Indian Culture Glossary, s.v. “Achar,” https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/achar.

APA

Indian Culture. (n.d.). Achar. In Indian Culture glossary. https://www.indian-culture.de/en/glossar/achar