Jamaica is known for its dance and reggae music, Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios and of course Dunns River Falls. However, you will be hard pressed to hear travellers talking about the culinary scene in Jamaica. Read through this blog and get to discover the secrets of Jamaican cuisine. The secrets are presented in point format;

1. First of all, you need to know that the Jamaican cuisine is a mixture of most of the world's cultures. All the people that have at one time or another stayed in Jamaica have contributed to its rich cooking techniques. These peoples include; the indigenous people, the Chinese, Indians, Africans, The British and the Spanish.

2. The ingredients used to make these foods are either sourced from the sea (remember Jamaica is an island) as well as plants whose origin is Asia and Africa. There are also ingredients that are native to Jamaica.

3. Among the popular Jamaican dishes include; curry goat, ackee and salt fish, fried dumplings, Jamaican Patties and Pastries etc. The national dish in Jamaica is the fried plantain, jerk, steamed cabbages served with rice and peas. This is washed down with fruit beverages or the popular Jamaican rum.

4. Other main dishes you can enjoy in the country include; corn beef, oxtail with broad beans, pork chops, Ital stew with highly spiced vegetables and beans stew, as well as steamed fish.

5. Soups in Jamaica will be any of the following; fish tea, chicken soup, pumpkin soup, mannish water, red peas soup etc.

6. Bread and pastries include; bulla cakes, bammy, spice buns, and coco bread

7. Side dishes will include; pepperpot soup, cabbages, Jamaican-style sweet fried maize dumpling, Solomon gundy, stewed peas, cow foot etc.

8. Popular beverages on Jamaican dining tables include; bush tea, pineapple soda, limeade, mango juice, ginger beer, sorrel drink, Guinness punch, Otaheiti apple juice, Tamarind drink, suck-suck etc.

9. You will most likely have some desserts that will include the likes of coconut milk, grape nut and rum, plantain tart, potato pudding, Bustamante Buckbone etc.

Countries with sizeable immigrant from Jamaica such as the United States, the UK, Canada and other Caribbean nations have heavily benefited from this rich cuisine. You are well advised to try some Jamaican food wherever you visit. After all, haven't they food nurtured the greatest athletes of our time?

By Kennedy Runo on 02/06/2015 in Jamaica