Tracing Jamaican culture and cuisine through history.

You cannot put Jamaican culture and Jamaican cuisine in one bracket. Beginning with the native Arawak and Taino population, the Spanish, British, African slave labor to later day Indians, Chinese and some Europeans, Jamaica has become a cultural melting pot. The influx made rich contributions to Jamaican culture and cuisine. What you would find is the mixture of diverse Jamaican culture and cuisine and their influence on Jamaican life and society.

While the Tainos were known to inhabit the island between 3000 to 6000 years ago, the country came into focus after the arrival of Columbus. Then came the Spanish and later after the British took over, Jamaica became a crown colony. With colonization came the slaves from Africa and after abolition of slavery came the indentured laborers from India and China.

Each wave of people coming into one of the most picturesque islands of the world, brought with them their culture that later blended and became a part of the Jamaican culture. Being ethnically diverse, Jamaican cuisine and culture is a rich mix of African, Indian, Chinese and European. Although recently many North Americans have made Jamaica their home, but they do not form a part of mainstream Jamaican society. Many Americans once took a Jamaican vacation, now spend their retirement in this beautiful island.

Diversity in Jamaica has led to a unique Caribbean culture that is ethnically rich. While Christmas, Easter, Chinese New Year and the Hindu festival of lights are celebrated, the famous Nine Nights is typically Jamaican. It takes place after a loved ones death. Christmas cake and pudding, Sorrel, Lent during Easter, fried fish, and the special dishes for other national holidays are part of popular culture and cuisine of Jamaica.

Recipes from all over have made their culture and cuisine fantastic. While tea, a British contribution is the favorite beverage, Jerk pork and chicken, dry-rubbed and uniquely spiced, is washed down with cane rum or the famous Red Stripe beer. Chinese and East Indian recipes blend adding more flavor and diversity. Chicken and turkey tastes better as they are fed with local food instead of grains from abroad.

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