The Jamaica Desserts is very influenced by many cultures since it has been a place of passage for the Africans, the British, the Indians, and the Chinese. In any case, the most common foods are cassava, corn, guava, fish (especially mackerel and cod) and grilled meat. Here is a list of the most interesting typical dishes to eat during a trip to Jamaica. At the bottom of the page, you will also find drinks.
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Cornmeal Porridge
Many Jamaicans believe that cornmeal porridge is the staple food for fitness. Some households traditionally prepare cornmeal porridge as breakfast, as it is said to increase strength. The porridge, widely consumed in Jamaica, consists of cornmeal slowly cooked and seasoned with milk, nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla, then sweetened to taste. Cornmeal porridge is usually served hot with a generous slice of bread and butter. It is perfect to start the day.
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Ackee and Codfish
This is Jamaica’s national dish and almost a must-try during your trip. The fleshy, yellow part of the ackee fruit pod is cooked with salted codfish. It is usually eaten for breakfast, and you’ll find it looks like scrambled eggs. Ackee is a fruit of the lychee family and was imported from West Africa in the late 18th century. This fruit, when it is still unripe can be poisonous, so it is important to choose well the place where to eat the Ackee with Balacao because you can end up with stomach ache and vomiting. We recommend you do it in a good hotel.
- Festival
One of the most popular fried foods in Jamaica. The so-called “festival” differs from johnnycakes (see below) in that they are sweeter, oval-shaped and made with cornmeal. Legend has it that the name of these cornbread doughnuts originates from the fact that they are fun to eat, like a “festival” or a party in the mouth.
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Escovitch Fish
This is one of the oldest dishes in Jamaican cuisine. “Escovitch” refers to the method of marinating fish in a spicy sauce. The name comes from the Spanish word escabeche, which means marinated. The fish is lightly fried, drained and then dipped in a marinade of vinegar boiled with onions, choco (a native Jamaican vegetable), carrots and hot peppers.
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Jamaican Jerk
It’s usually grilled chicken or pork with a spicy, smoky flavour, which is the result of super secret ingredients in the seasoning. What makes it special is the allspice: a spicy seasoning made from dried bell pepper berries, scotch bonnet bell pepper, onion, thyme and ginger.
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Bammy
Bammy is a round flat bread made from cassava flour. It is usually served as a side dish to a meal. It makes a very good combination with fried fish. It is said to be the bread that Christopher Columbus ate with his crew on their first meeting with the Arawak Indians, who were the first inhabitants of Jamaica. Bammis are also served with syrup for breakfast.
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Beef Tender
You will find this dish in almost every Jamaican restaurant. Oxtail is fried until both sides are dark brown in colour. It is then cooked in a pressure cooker for 20-30 minutes until the meat becomes tender. The pot is seasoned with local herbs and spices along with carrots and beans. It is simmered until the sauce thickens. Absolutely delicious!
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Fish Tea
Don’t be fooled by the name, it is actually a spicy fish soup. There are different versions, some lighter than others. Garra rufa, or doctor fish, a local fish, is used to prepare it. It is said to restore strength to the body. It is a hearty soup with vegetables and green plantains. Don’t forget that this soup is considered an aphrodisiac, so eat it with care.
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Callaloo
A popular dish throughout the Caribbean featuring a dark leafy vegetable such as callaloo in Jamaica (or water spinach in other nations). On the island, they steam it and then add fish, salt, onion and chives.
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Rich with Beans
One of Jamaica’s most popular dishes: consists of a rice base cooked with beans coconut milk and seasonings that give it an exquisite flavour. This is a very common dish throughout the Caribbean, however, in Jamaica it is nicknamed “Jamaica’s Coat of Arms” due to its role as the main dish in Jamaican cuisine.
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Jamaican Patty
It is a patty that contains various fillings and spices, the crust of this patty is usually dyed golden colours due to the use of a mixture of egg yolk and turmeric. It is a culinary speciality of Jamaican cuisine and other Caribbean areas.
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Curry Chicken
It is but one example of what immigrants from India contributed to traditional Jamaican food. When slavery ended, tens of thousands of people from India came to work on the plantations and brought their love of curry spices. While there is now a small Indian population, the love of curry is still very much alive.
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Johnny Cakes
A fried dumpling-like ball of dough is often eaten for breakfast. Most fried dumplings are made from flour, but some also include other starches such as cornmeal, cassava flour or shredded plantains.
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Chicken Feet Soup
Okay, this is not a dish for everyone. It is a traditional Jamaican soup made with chicken feet, carrots, yams, and boiled meatballs and seasoned with Jamaican spices such as scotch bonnet pepper, thyme and garlic.
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Grater Cake
A dessert made from shredded coconut and sugar (sometimes ginger is also used). The coconut and sugar are boiled and spread on a baking sheet. Once hardened, it is cut into triangles or squares.
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Red Stripe
Jamaica’s iconic beer is a golden ale. You can also find Red Stripe Light, Red Stripe Bold and two variants of Red Stripe flavored, lemon and Sorrel.
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Sorrel
Sorrel is a red drink made from hibiscus. It is available all year round, but it is the drink of choice at Christmas time in Jamaica. Rum can also be added.
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Malt
Jamaican Malt is a lightly carbonated malt beverage. It is brewed with barley, hops and water. It is like a beer that has not yet been fermented, so it has no alcohol and is consumed in the same way as soft drinks in its original carbonated form. We could say that it is like the “Cocacola” of Jamaica. It should be drunk cold and on the rocks.
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Bob Marley Cocktail
It is a cocktail formed by a green layer (daiquiri), a yellow one (mango) and a red stripe (strawberry): like a multicolor slush, and it is perfectly Instagram able. While Sandals Resorts created this recipe, you’ll be able to find it at any tourist spot in Jamaica.
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Coconut Water
Coconut water is the clear liquid found inside a young green coconut. Coconut water is excellent for hydration, is fat-free and has many antioxidants. But be careful, as it is also a natural laxative.
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Peanut Punch
Sometimes made with Guinness, sometimes with oatmeal, the main ingredients of this drink are peanuts, nutmeg, vanilla extract and milk. The myth behind this drink is that it has aphrodisiac powers.
Jamaica Desserts
Jamaica desserts is a mixture of African and English cuisine, most of its dishes have an intense flavour due to the large amount of condiments used to marinate the dishes. The base consists of fish, chicken, rice, vegetables, fruits and spices. Some of the typical Jamaican dishes that we have not mentioned before are Pork with allspice, and papaya “chutney” which are pieces of papaya, mango and ginger marinated in tamarind juice, vinegar and chilli. Also of note is the rabbit with rum and the Jamaican omelette (made with eggs, spinach, carrots, celery, potatoes and tomatoes).
What most characterizes Jamaica Desserts is the variety of spices such as ginger or curry. The “allspice” is known for its spicy flavour and powerful aroma.
Typical Jamaica Desserts are characterized by their intense flavours, such as Jamaican rum and coffee liqueur. Tropical juices and fruit smoothies are also very typical. It is important to highlight the famous Appleton rum, which is one of the best brands of aged rum. Drinking juices in the Caribbean is highly recommended, since they have a great variety of fruits in Jamaica, even so, travellers have to be careful, since many times they mix tap water or the ice of the juices made with tap water, which can lead to some stomach aches for travellers. That is why we recommend that before ordering a juice you make sure that it is mixed with bottled water and we also recommend that you ask for it without ice, so you will avoid any problems. Anyway, you have to try the juices in Jamaica as they are really delicious.