Jamaica is home to some of the world’s finest and varied cuisine thanks to the eclectic mix of cultures which helped mode the country into the modern tourist destination we see today. Jamaican cuisine is a mixture of assorted cooking techniques and flavours. From the indigenous population to the Spanish, British, African, Indian and Chinese who have all at one stage all inhabited the island. All these cultures have helped shape the island into a world-class holiday destination.
Visitors to the island are always looking for affordable Jamaica group vacation rentals and authentic cuisine. Jamaican dishes are a fusion of cooking styles brought to the island from around the world. They are often adjusted to incorporate locally grown produce, these are the best Jamaican dishes from the home of reggae.
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What to eat in Jamaica?
Curry goat is a dish which originated in India but has since become population in the Caribbean. The dish is popular in Jamaica and known as the party dish. At big dances a specialist chef is often brought into to prepare curry goat. While considerably milder than the Indian equivalent it is still a dish with a kick thanks to the spice mix that is typical of Jamaican cooking.
Jerk Chicken or more generally Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica and perhaps the most well known style of cooking on the island. The meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a very hot spice called Jamaican jerk spice. Jerk seasoning is traditionally applied to chicken and pork. Jerk seasoning mainly consists of two items, allspice (known as pimento in Jamaica) and scotch bonnet peppers (very much like the habanero pepper), these two ingredients give jerk chicken its infamous kick.
Ackee and saltfish is Jamaica’s national dish and one which has spread throughout the Caribbean. To prepare the dish, salt cod is sauteed with boiled ackee, onions, scotch bonnet peppers, tomatoes and spices including pimento. The dish can be served with rice and is traditionally served on a Sunday.
Fish tea is a spicy Jamaican soup which can take up to four hours to prepare. The dish includes ground yam, pumpkin, cassava and potatoes and is cooked down until it is very soft. The fish is then added along with cho-cho carrots, before being flavoured with coconut milk and seasoned.