Exploring Jamaican Food: Tamarind
Many people are familiar with the name of the tamarind, but few know about its appearance or its long history of medicinal use. It’s been cultivated for centuries and the first Jamaica tamarind tree was planted in Hawaii in 1797. The fruit is believed to have been introduced in Jamaica and the Caribbean in the […]
Forbes Magazine Takes a look at Jerk Chicken Cultural Appropriation
As the taste of Jamaican jerk becomes more popular, the issue of cultural appropriation has also arisen and recently explored by Forbes magazine. Authentic Jamaican jerk includes the flavors of scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, ginger, garlic, scallion, and allspice berries and the smoky pimento wood fire used for cooking. The Jerk tradition has created commercial […]
Reggie: A Kaleidoscope Of My Jamaican Childhood
Did I know him? No! Did I love him? No! Do, I regret this? Sometimes. But the fault lies squarely on his shoulders. Love is not automatic. It is earned. He was the adult. He was responsible, or irresponsible? Should he have known better, done better? Perhaps. But it’s too late now. I arrived on […]
8 Things to Know About Jamaica Day
Jamaica Day is an annual celebration that recognizes the nation’s unique aspects and its contributions to the world. Conducted under the auspices of the Culture in Education Program, the special day is operated by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Information. The theme for this year’s event is Celebrating Jamaica: Highlighting our icons in the […]
Exploring Jamaican Food: Sweetsop
For anyone that enjoys the rich, sweet taste of custard, the Jamaican sweetsop could very well be an ideal fruit. Fans of the fruit, both young and old, say the taste of the fragrant, segmented flesh resembles custard. There’s some debate over when and how the fruit arrived on the island. Some say it was […]
How I Realized We Jamaicans Reference Death In Many Casual Conversations!!!
Reference to death varies according to our cultural lenses. For some reason, Jamaicans weave death into everyday language quite casually, jovially and irreverently, without thinking twice about it. We drop death all over the place. I didn’t realise this until I got to Ghana and saw people wince at my mention of death. I slowly […]
Did You Know That The Oxford English Dictionary Now Includes the Word “Jafaican?”
The Oxford English Dictionary (OED), the venerable and recognized authority on the English language that began 150 years ago, regularly publishes updates with new word additions four times a year. It has now included the word “Jafaican” on its latest list. The OED defines “Jafaican” as “A non-Jamaican person who adopts or identifies with aspects […]
10 Benefits You Need to Know About Otaheite Apple
The Jamaican Otaheite apple is known by a variety of names that includes Malay rose apple, coco plum and Mountain apple. Its shape vaguely resembles that of a pear grown in the U.S. and sports an appealing bright red color with stunningly white flesh on the inside. Known botanically as Syzgium malaccense, it was introduced […]
Greensleeves: A Kaleidoscope Of My Jamaican Childhood
Alas my love, you do me wrong to cast me off so discourteously, For I have loved you well and long, delighting in your company. Greensleeeves was all my joy, Greeensleeves was my delight, Greensleeves was my heart of gold, And naught but my Lady Greensleeves. To the eyes of a seven year- old coming […]
Growing Pains: A Kaleidoscope Of My Jamaican Childhood
Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom My grandmother was a loving woman but a strict disciplinarian. I was not beaten often, so I could accommodate the occasional impatient conks from her and the ear-twisting for my ‘stubbornness’ from my mother. But two events happened to me in quick succession when I was still in […]