The most defining feature of a bread and butter pickle is certainly its sweetness. Sugar is added to the brine, taking away some of the sharpness present in more sour pickle varieties.  What's more, the brine for bread and butter pickles boasts a menagerie of complimentary spices including turmeric, cloves, red pepper, mustard seed, and celery seed. The resulting pickle is sour, spicy, salty, and bright with an intense sweetness.