What did the different ethnic groups bring to Jamaica?

In response to my YouTube video on 27 Must Eat Foods In Jamaica, Colin T, one of my ardent subscribers who is living in Canada, asked this question that truly inspired me...

RESPONSE: by Wellesley



Hi Colin (and readers),

Great question!

If you read my colonial history of Jamaica article, you'd probably realized that, over and above the cruelty of slavery, Jamaica is really, yes, a melting pot of races and ethnicity.

The main races/ethnicities of which are: Tainos, Africans, Chinese, Indians, Spanish, and English.

And each left an indelible mark on our culture.

And the beauty about it is... that is what makes us unique today, the people and culture we enjoy today.

So what is regarded as authentic Jamaican today, really is an amalgamation of these different cultures.

Before I provide the list, please take a quick look at the following two articles that provide some detail:

1. What The Spanish Brought: https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/what-did-the-spanish-bring-to-jamaica.html
   
2. What The Tainos Contributed: https://www.my-island-jamaica.com/what-did-the-tainos-contribute-to-jamaica.html
   

Now, here, in summary, are their main contributions from a culinary perspective, starting again with...

The Tainos

They were the earliest 'recorded' settlers of the above group here, and so technically, we can't say what they 'brought', but rather what they 'contributed', if you know what I mean :-)

• The plant and cultivation of cassava, pumpkin, cashew, sweet potato, arrowroot, corn, cashew, coco, pineapple and yampi
  
• Present-day barbecue called 'barbcoa' then
  
• The roasting of fish
  
• Note also that today's Saturday beef soup and pepper pot were also inherited from the Tainos.
  

The Spanish

Europeans, in the form of the Spanish (via an expedition), came here first in 1494 on Christopher Columbus' second voyage.

And lots of new plants, crops, and foods were introduced over time by them.

In fact, many will argue that they made the biggest impression on our foods today.

The most notable are...

• Oranges
  
• Lime and Lemon
  
• Tamarind
  
• Grape
  
• Banana
  
• Coconut
  
• figs
  
• date palm
  
• pomegranate
  
• plantains
  
• ginger
  
• and of course... king sugar cane.
  
  They also brought
  
• cattle
  
• goats
  
• and pigs
  
  Other contributions to Jamaican cuisine, include...
  
  
• Oxtail
  
• Cow Foot - yes blame them :-)
  
• Stewed Peas (with meat)
  
• The frying method of cooking
  
• Traditional-style chocolate tea
  
• Gizzada
  
• And yes, the soaking of fruits in wine for Jamaican fruit cake and Christmas puddings.
  

The Africans

Africans first came here in 1514 by the Spanish, based on a license, called Asiento, that was granted.

It was, however, not until the British took the island that Africans came here in droves, I mean hundreds of thousands! One estimate said it was close to a million (not including the significant number that didn't make the middle passage).

Africans bought their unique methods of preparing food, while also blending their creativity with foods made available by the slave masters.

• Okra
  
• Coco
  
• Yam
  
• Ackee (also came from West Africa but arrived in Jamaica via the Englishman Captain William Bligh in 1793, from London)
  
  Some of the ground provisions, it is said, replaced the cereals that were imported.
  
  Slave owners, by law, needed to provide fish or salted meat, at least once a year, and so Salt Fish was prized. It later became a key ingredient in our national dish (ackee and saltfish)
  
  Other contributions are...
  
  
• OnePot dishes, including Manish water
  
• Mackerel rundown
  
• Duckunno or Blue Draws
  
• ‘brebich' (beverage) :-)
  
• and Today's Jerk, roasting over hot coals on woods (including pimento), which was traced to the Coromantee tribe.
  

By the way, it is said that the goat meat was eaten by the masters, and the intestines, head, and feet, were given to the slaves who 'tun dem han and mek fashion'.

That derived the now popular, 'manish water' or goat belly soup!

The English

The BIG boys, yes, they captured Jamaica from the Spanish in 1655 and ruled the island until 1962 when we gained independence!

They introduced...

• breadfruit
  
• mangoes
  
• Rose apples and otaheiti apples
  
• black pepper
  
• tumeric and
  
• our now world-famous coffee - a hand to them for that? :-)
  
  Other significant contributions of the English/ British include...
  
  
• Easter Buns
  
• Sponge Cakes
  
• Pies
  
• James
  
• Pancakes
  
• Puddings
  
• & our much loved... Jamaican patty!
  

The Indians

The East Indians, who also came as indentured servants after emancipation, arrived between 1838 and 1917. Their contribution is popularly known for the curried dishes.

However, they also introduced...

• Lettuce
  
• Green Beans
  
• Escallion
  
• Cucumber &
  
• Cabbage
  
• Roti
  
• Wheat Flour &
  
• Egg Plant
  

The Chinese

Chinese came to the Caribbean as indentured laborers first, as first to the British government by Trinidad's Governor then. It is said that their recipes were limited because we lacked the basic ingredients here.

They, however, followed suit from the Africans in many ways.

The following though can be traced back to the Chinese.

• The salting of fish (particularly the angel fish) and hanging in sun to dry for weeks was inherited from them.
  
• Stir-fried recipes
  
• Steamed recipes
  
• Sweet and Sour recipes
  
• The extensive use of Pak Choy (vegetable)
  

They also set up several bakeries and shops across the island.

Key Note

Don't forget... it is the amalgamation of many of these cultures that make the mouth-watering Jamaican cuisine what it is today.

For example, Today's Escovietched fish and Bammy is the result of combining the escoveitched fish from the Spaniards with the bammy from the Tainos.

And whatever you do, don't miss this... captivating pictures of Jamaican foods.

Remember to read more on the history of Jamaica here.

Have Your Say

Now, who do YOU say made the BIGGEST contribution to Jamaica? I welcome your comments here.


Regards,
WG

References

• "Culinary Heritage", http://jamaica55.gov.jm/culinary/culinary-heritage/
  
• "History Notes: Information on Jamaica's Culture & Heritage", https://nlj.gov.jm/history-notes-jamaica/
  
• "Jamaican Ackee", http://wwwchem.uwimona.edu.jm/lectures/ackee.html
  

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