Jamaicans love to cook

Jamaica is known for its cooking. I mean we love to cook and cook a lot too. Have you ever realized how much food we take along with us whenever we are going out for a river trip or even to the beach? If we are going to be spending most of the day there has to be some amount of cooking. Having fun means having a ‘full belly’ with a lot of drinks. This is just how Jamaicans are. Let us consume this food.

Have you ever cooked at the river or bush before?

If you know about going “to the bush” then you would know that a pot will be taken so that cooking can be done for lunch and even for dinner while you are there. Working people will have to eat. Once you are at home and a group of friends come over you can be sure that a pot usually goes on and “a boat run” with dumplings and some curried chicken back and sometimes with some soft green bananas. Cooking adds to the fun.

Our seasoning is great

It’s a reality that we use a lot of seasons and we try our best to stay away from the powdered ones. We use a lot of scallion and thyme, onions , pepper, and the real hot ones too (scotch bonnet). Our food is usually well seasoned.

Jamaican men love to cook

Cooking for many Jamaicans and let me say especially for some men is a hobby. It is usually said that when a Jamaican man cooks you have to lick your ten fingers. It usually tastes better than when a woman does. The truth is you hardly find Jamaican men in the kitchen cooking (this is now changing) so when you do they are usually great at it.

The food is best cooked on the wood fire

The greatest thing though is when the food is cooked on the wood fire. This takes a lot of skill but older Jamaicans do this without blinking an eye and they have passed on the traditions to many younger ones. Cooking is a talent for most Jamaican its just pure fun so it is a delight when visitors come to the island and get us to cook for them the real old fashion way. They get the real experience.