Cornichon ClovisCrisp, tart pickles made from tiny gherkin cucumbers, by Clovis in the Champagne region. The gherkin ("Cornichon" in french) is a fruit similar in form and nutritional value to a cucumber. Gherkins and cucumbers belong to the same species but are different cultivar groups. They are usually picked when 4 to 8 cm in length and pickled in jars or cans with vinegar (often flavored with herbs, particularly dill)) or brine to resemble a pickled cucumber.