Foods Eaten in Jamaica

The foods eaten in Jamaica are wide and varied. The local dishes are influenced by the inhabitants of the island and history; Arawak Indians, Spanish, Africans, Indian, Middle-Eastern, British and even Chinese. All the local dishes have roots in history and some of the original dishes might still be recognized, all have been reinvented with a special Jamaican flair. A visit to Jamaica doesn't mean you'll only find local cuisine. You will find plenty of Continental and American cuisine.

Let your tastebuds run wild. From a simple roadside food-stand to the kitchen of an elegant hotel, you'll find the Jamaican cuisine completely original and delicious.

Some of the unique foods eaten in Jamaica are:

Ackee -- Popular fruit for breakfast. It is poisonous if eaten before it's fully mature. When cooked it looks like scrambled eggs.
Bammy -- A cassava pancake.
Bellywash -- Limeade.
Callaloo -- Green leafy vegetable (similar to collard greens).
Cassava -- Also know as yucca (a starchy tuber).
Cho Cho -- Also know as chayote (a small pear shaped, light-green tuber).
Escoveitch -- Tangy fish, pickled in vinegar, then fried and simmered with onions and peppers.
Guava --A small rounded fruit with an intense, musky aroma. Found in nectars, punches, syrups & jams.
Guinep --Small green fruit that grows in clusters, like grapes. Can be found July-November.
Irish Moss -- Natural drink made with seaweed extract.
I-tal -- Pure and healthy food. Natural - no preservatives.
Janga -- Crayfish.
Jelly -- Young coconut meat.
Jerk -- Spicy marinate for meat and fish.
Johnny Cakes -- Fried dumplings.
Mango -- A lush fruit that comes in an assortment of colors from yellow to black.
Papaya -- Melon-smooth flesh in colors from yellow to rose.
Peas -- Beans and Lentils.
Pickapeppa -- A savory bottled sauce.
Pimento -- Allspice.
Roti -- Flat Indian pan bread.
Rundown -- Fish cooked in coconut milk.
Soursop -- An awkward looking, irregularly shaped fruit that is fragrant, yet acidic.
Star Apple -- Dark purple, mildly sweet, gelatinous fruit. The seeds form a star in the center.
Ting -- Jamaica's grapefruit flavored soda.
Yampi -- Jamaican Yam

Seek out the locally owned and operated restaurants and eateries and try some traditional Jamaican dishes. You'll add depth to you Jamaican experience and you'll be glad you did.

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