Jamaica Holidays

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Jamaica food

For an island of only 4,400 square miles, Jamaica has amassed an enviable diversity of culinary delights: it is a treasure trove of food.

Among its national dishes, “rice and peas”is a tasty dish with no peas in sight! It is made with kidney beans, white rice, coconut milk, scallions (spring onions) and coconut oil. Or perhaps try “salt fish” (dried cod) and ackee - the cooked fruit of the ackee tree.

While some Caribbean islands grow ackee as an ornamental tree, only Jamaica considers it a tree that bears edible, bright red fruit – brought to the island from West Africa by none other than Captain Bligh, of the famous Bounty. The flesh of the ackee is popular as a breakfast food throughout the island – but never eat it before it is fully mature: it is poisonous until it bursts open of its own accord.

You might well find Jamaican pepperpot soup on the menu: salt pork, salt beef, okra and Indian kale known as callaloo, followed by chicken fricassée Jamaican-style - a rich chicken stew with carrots, scallions, yams, onions, tomatoes and peppers prepared in unrefined coconut oil.

Goat meat is eaten with enthusiasm in only a few places in the world - Jamaica is one of them. Some credit immigrants from India who searched in vain for lamb to prepare their beloved curry. Finding no lambs, they latched onto the next best thing--and curried goat became a Caribbean classic. Most first-timers find goat milder in flavour than lamb and an excellent substitute for lamb in most recipes

For the adventurous, perhaps try roast suckling pig - a three-month-old piglet which is boned and stuffed with rice, peppers, diced yam and thyme mixed with shredded coconut and corn meal.

Yes, Jamaican food can be full of surprises and fire, taking advantage of locally available pungent spices and peppers, but so, too, can the beverages that are perfectly suited to the climate and a laid-back lifestyle.

Firstly there is Jamaican rum - world famous, especially Gold Label and Appleton, often delivered as a rum punch. Then there is Rumona - a delicious rum cordial, while Red Stripe beer is ubiquitous. Tia Maria is a Blue Mountain coffee and chocolate liqueur, while Blue Mountain coffee by itself is both refreshing and stimulating. The legal drinking age in Jamaica is 18, there are no licensing hours and alcohol can be bought all day!

For the best advice on travelling to Jamaica contact one of our Jamaica holiday experts by putting your details in the contact form below.

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