Jamaican Food: More Than Just the Jerk

Jamaican cuisine is the heart and soul of the country, they love their food. Their cuisine is deeply connected with the islands diverse heritage and Jamaica's citizens have daily rituals surrounding its consumption. They usually start the day with a dish called callaloo and their next meal, lunch, is the biggest meal of the day. “Islanders draw from many West African and Indian dishes, and staples from those cultures such as dukunnu (pudding made from cornmeal, green banana, yam, sugar, and spices then wrapped in banana leaves and steamed) and curried goat are mainstays in Jamaican cuisine as well”(“Jamaica Food” n.d.). Curry and jerk aren't the only seasonings used in island dishes. Allspice, ginger, nutmeg, and dried pimento berries can be found in many recipes.

The Jamaican people adopted foods like cassava, from the indigenous Arawak, pickled meats and fish, from the European influence, bananas and yams, from the Africans and curry, from the people of East India. Then they “add some more spice, and what do... [they] get? Jamaican cuisine”(“Visit Jamaica” 2011). Jamaicans have a diverse history and a proud culture. Their cuisine and traditions around food reflect that. As the Jamaican proverb goes: a hungry man cannot work. So they know the value of a good meal.

Works Cited

"Jamaica Food." Jamaica Guide - Culture, History, Vacations, Travel, and More . N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Dec. 2011. <http://jamaica-guide.info/food/>.

"Visit Jamaica." About Jamaica Culture. N.p., 2011. Web. 3 Dec. 2011. <http://www.visitjamaica.com/about-jamaica/culture-food-mainpage.aspx>.