Pickle Physics: How Bouncing Determines Authenticity in Connecticut

Dr. ADAM TABRIZ
3 min readAug 15, 2023

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Pickle
Photo by little plant on Unsplash

The Unique Pickle Bouncing Requirement in Connecticut

In Connecticut, the folks are downright particular about their pickles. They have this crazy rule that says a pickle has to bounce to be legit. I don’t know about you, but I’ve never seen a bouncing pickle. Who am I to question the wisdom of the pickle gods? Legend believes this peculiar pickle law can be traced back to a wild tale from 1948. These two dudes named Sidney Sparer and Moses Dexler, who were in the pickle packing business, totally flubbed the bounce test. And let me tell you, they paid for it big time. Those un-bouncy pickles got fined and wiped out faster than you can say “kosher. In the land of pickles, where laws dwell but bounce not, lies a trove of statutes, regulations, and articles that dare to tackle the perplexing matter of pickle-pouncing. Behold! This fascinating historical tapestry paints a vivid picture of the origins of Connecticut’s peculiar pickle-pouncing test.

Connecticut has an entirely bonkers pickle policy. For a pickle to be deemed official, it has to pass the bouncing exam.

You read that right; they chuck the pickle from about a foot off the ground and see if it springs back like a rubber ball. If it flops, sorry, buddy, but you’re not considered a real pickle in Connecticut. Who knew pickles had to have mad bounce skills just to fit in? That is another way this state likes to keep things weird.

Ah, the pickle-picking tradition! It’s a peculiar one. Surprisingly, though, some pickle aficionados believe it serves a purpose. They say it guarantees top-notch, farm-fresh pickles in Connecticut. That leads to lively debates on what makes a pickle “official” in the state. Simple? Maybe. Specific? Definitely. It’s enough to pique anyone’s interest and spark some passionate discussion.

The eccentric tale of the pickle-bouncing requirement has spread like wildfire, tricking folks into thinking it’s against the law to peddle a non-bouncy pickle. Yet, let us not be fooled by these shenanigans, my friends, for the truth is far from what it seems. As hard as it may be to believe, there is no official decree commanding pickles to possess this peculiar property. Connecticut, a land of pickles and confusion, holds tight to the bouncing test like a cherished tradition. This weird requirement has caused many debates and misunderstandings, but fear not, for the pickle-bouncing test is here to stay. It’s a quirk that keeps locals and visitors scratching their heads in wonderment, adding a mystery to Connecticut’s culinary culture.

References

  1. Is that a law? Why pickles must bounce (n.d.) Retrieved July 31, 2023, from www.thefreelibrary.com
  2. The Myth of the Connecticut Pickle Law: Home. (n.d.) Retrieved July 31, 2023, from libguides.ctstatelibrary.org/law/pickle
  3. Bouncing Pickles and five more weird Connecticut Laws (n.d.) Retrieved July 31, 2023, from www.ctinsider.com/news/article/unusual-laws-ct-17494536.php
  4. Picturing America’s Weirdest Laws by Breaking Them. (n.d.) Retrieved July 31, 2023, from hyperallergic.com
  5. NBC CT Investigates the Bouncing Pickle Test. (n.d.) Retrieved July 31, 2023, from www.nbcconnecticut.com

Originally published at https://www.newsbreak.com.

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Dr. ADAM TABRIZ

In this vast tapestry of existence, I weave my thoughts and observations about all facets of life, offering a perspective that is uniquely my own.