A Taste of Jamaica:
A Guide for Lovers of Jamaican Food

Introduction

"Do you see the ackee?"

We were strolling the banks of the Black River on Jamaica's south coast when we heard the call of a man from a nearby car. He gestured up at an ordinary looking tree we were near. Between its green leaves peeked small red fruit, bursting open to reveal large black seeds like eyes looking out at us.

"That's ackee. We make our national dish from that fruit. You must try some while you are here!"

The enthusiasm this stranger showed for Jamaican food is typical on that island, a veritable produce section of fruits, vegetables, roots, and spices. The locals' enthusiasm is contagious. Visit Jamaica and you will get caught up in the taste of the island: the burn of the peppery jerk, the slickness of cold coconut jelly, the richness of a truly world-class cup of coffee.

In a decade of travel to Jamaica, we've enjoyed meals that span the dining spectrum: jerk from roadside stands, patties from small town bakeries, shrimp from side-of-the-road vendors, home cooking from some of the island's best chefs, and gourmet meals that could hold their own in New York or Paris.

Jamaican restaurants, aware of those without the need to explore, can offer a white bread menu for those not looking for a real taste of island life. You can find Caribbean dishes devoid of the slightest taste of spice or burgers just like those back home. These are aimed at the vacationer who wants to transplant home onto a sandy beach, never leaving the confines of his resort and never acknowledging the vibrant culture that lies around him.

But you're not like that. You want a taste of the real Jamaica, a flavor that grabs you by your taste buds and makes you realize that "yes, I have gone somewhere different." You see dining as part of the adventure of travel, an experience comparable to scuba diving the reefs of Montego Bay or hiking the rugged heights of the Blue Mountains. It's a chance to learn more about the history of this island where people from around the globe have shaped a distinctive culture. To see how a nation has taken its natural bounty and transformed it into a culinary event just as it has transformed its natural beauties into a travel destination.

Dining in Jamaica is more than nutrition: it's part of the whole vacation experience. Breakfast can start with a taste of one of the world's best coffees, grown right on the island. Lunch might mean a chance to get out and meet island residents who prepare a savory roadside dish in a manner perfected by the Caribbean's first inhabitants centuries ago. And dinner is far more than just the day's final meal, it's the evening's entertainment.