In a pickle over which wine to take to a dinner party? Turn up with a jar of gherkins instead

A bottle of wine or a bunch of flowers were once considered the perfect dinner party presents.

But guests wanting to impress their hosts are looking to something rather unexpected – a jar of gherkins.

Etiquette experts say that pickles have become the latest must–give gourmet gift, with guests notching up extra points if they are made at home.

Those that are presented in a pretty glass jar with a homemade label or handwritten note are particularly well–received by middle–class hosts, they claim.

The trend has been put down to a rise in the cost of living, more people drinking less alcohol and a change in the kinds of food being served at dinner parties.

Any pickled vegetable counts, the experts add – even home–prepared pickled onions.

Waitrose said searches for pickles have risen 127 per cent on last year, while speciality food and kitchen retailer Sous Chef revealed that sales of its pickle products have more than doubled year on year.

Holly Thomson, of Sous Chef, said: 'The hype is real. We're seeing a boom across gherkins, bread and butter pickles and cornichons. Customers are looking for super–crunchy, juicy, tangy pickles in stylish packaging that feels like a special gift.

'And as people are drinking less, the 'bottle of red' trope is being reimagined. So something tasty, under £10, beautifully designed, and a little light–hearted, like a jar of pickles, is a great choice.' Rupert Wesson, director of etiquette experts Debrett's, said: 'Pickles are healthy and can be visually appealing, and to give someone a gift that has taken effort, rather than money, should mean so much more.'

The surge in pickle popularity has been driven by an interest in East Asian, particularly Korean, food which features ingredients like kimchi, along with awareness around gut health.

Research suggests fermented pickles are beneficial for the microbiome, encouraging good bacteria to thrive in the gut.

Singer Dua Lipa embraced the food fad when she posted a video to TikTok showing her favourite drink: Diet Coke loaded with pickle juice and jalapenos.