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knowledge jamaica
ttglive.com
Food guide
Nice jerk if
you can get it
Jamaica is as famous for jerked meats as
Ireland is for Guinness or Cornwall for pasties.
Philippa Jacks investigates the phenomenon
I
first tried jerk chicken at Notting Hill slowly before drying it in the sun.
Carnival, where a polystyrene tray of Key ingredients include scotch bonnet
gristly meat costing six quid was a poor chilli peppers, garlic, pimento, ginger, sugar
introduction to this national treasure. and thyme, but recipes vary, and are often a
Fortunately they make it a lot better in the closely guarded secret.
country itself, and really do eat it all the time. Celebrity chef Antony Worrall Thompson
The word “jerk” is said to derive from the recently boasted that his own jerk was the
Quechuan (Native Central American) word best he’d ever tasted, which gave rise to the
“cherquai” meaning dried meat. Slaves first Jamaica Jerk Challenge in Ocho Rios in
brought to Jamaica in the 1600s escaped into March. Wozza fought a good fight but the
the island’s hills where they hunted wild cook-off was won by two Jamaicans, Rupert
boar to survive. They used strong herbs and Bourne and Mark “Max” Miller.
spices to help preserve it, and smoked it Boston Bay in the north east is regarded as
the ‘home of jerk’ but you’ll never have to
look far to find jerked chicken, pork and fish
across the island. Clients wanting to do more
than simply taste it should check out Walk-
erswood Jerk Factory, a 20-minute drive
from Ochie. For $15, visitors get a guided
tour lasting up to an hour, starting with the
gardens where you can see the scallions,
peppers and thyme that make up jerk
growing. You can try to mix your own jerk
together, and watch the factory production
line in full swing. The centre can also
arrange cooking classes for the more
Some of the ingredients used include chillis, thyme and sugar committed foodie.
JERKING AROUND...
The Portland Jerk Festival in Port Antonio in July is another Couples Swept Away and Couples Negril (both in Negril)
good opportunity to taste jerk. offer weekly Jamaican cookery classes where guests can
try their hand at traditional dishes.
The Accompong Maroon Festival which takes place in
January in western Jamaica celebrates the history of Grand Lido Negril Resort & Spa hosts its annual Epicurean
the “maroons” – descendants of runaway slaves – Escape between 24 and 28 June. Guests can attend
with lots of jerked meats. interactive cooking classes as well as wine seminars
Some UK supermarkets now stock Walkerswood ■ visitjamaica.com
products (pictured). ■ walkerswood.com
■ royalplantation.com
Royal Plantation in Ocho Rios offers “Bon Vivant ■ couples.com
Cooking Classes” to guests. ■ superclubs.com
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