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Why Do Jamaicans Drink Guinness?

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jamaican_guinness_gleanerWhy Do Jamaicans Drink Guinness | (Photo: Jamaican Gleaner)

by Venesha Johnson | Associate Writer

This beer is very popular among men in Jamaica and the wider Caribbean. Because of its bitter taste, women tend to shy away from it for sweeter alcoholic beverages.

The brand is so synonymous with “stouts” that it is often used as a substitute for the word. So strongly connected to the area that many drinkers are ignorant of its Irish origin. It is the Guinness brand.

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A bit of History:

Arthur Guinness started manufacturing beer in 1756, however, his Dublin brewery wouldn’t open for another 3 years. The dark, syrupy beer known as porter was, at the time, a well-liked style brewed in the British Isles.

The roasted malt, which made up most of the grain used in the beer, gave porter its dark colour and rich flavour. Like most other brewers of the time, Guinness produced both ale and porter. The production of ale was discontinued in 1799, and the company focused solely on developing the four types of porter that would serve as the brand's foundation.

These four were added in 1801, and the first mention of Guinness manufacturing a beer expressly for the Caribbean market was in a brewery journal entry for West Indies Porter. Guinness West Indies Porter was brewed with more hops and a little bit of sour beer to make it stronger.

Another iconic product was introduced twenty years following the launch of West Indies Porter. Extra Superior Porter was the original name of a stronger variant of Superior Porter that later became Guinness Extra Stout. West Indies Porter would also be similarly dubbed Guinness Foreign Extra Stout.

Benefits of Drinking Guinness

  1. It has heart-healthy antioxidants - Let the red wine go. According to a 2003 study, Guinness beer may reduce the chance of blood clots forming in the arteries, whereas other beers did not have the same impact. This heart-healthy advantage can be attributed to flavonoids, a plant-based antioxidant in several beverages and dark chocolate.

  2. Iron benefits the body - Even though Guinness only has.3 mg of iron per pint, most adults don't consume the 9–18 mg per day that are suggested, thus every drink counts! Even pregnant women and post-operative patients once received Guinness, and as recently as 2010, it was given to recipients of blood donations to help restore their iron levels.

  3. The post-workout hydration benefit - One study revealed, perhaps most unexpectedly of all, that individuals who drank a pint of beer after exercising were better hydrated than those who drank water. This is probably the reason a beer feels so good at the summit of a trek. There you have it, then. A little science and a little luck of the Irish. Whichever manner you choose to enjoy that creamy, malty pleasure this weekend, feel good about it.

  4. It is vegan - Some of us subscribe to a plant-only diet and prefer to keep it green every day. Guinness is now vegan (true story!). So you don’t have to sip with reservations or guilt if you are vegan.

  5. It reduces inflammation - According to studies, consuming hops (in the form of beer) inhibits the activity of substances that cause inflammation. A diet high in fibre can also assist to lower inflammation.

  6. It benefits your bones - In addition to calcium and dietary silicon, which are crucial for the formation and development of bone and connective tissues, beer also contains phytoestrogen, a plant hormone that is essential for creating robust bones. According to studies, moderate beer drinkers had a lower chance of developing osteoporosis and hip fractures.

Drinking Guinness has no significant side effects but as with everything, moderation is key.

guinness_punch_jamaican_foods_and_recipesJamaican Guinness Punch | (Photo: jamaicanfoodsandrecipes.com)

Why do Jamaicans drink Guinness?

Jamaicans believe that anything bitter is good for you and purifies your blood. Now, does Guinness have that effect? I haven’t been able to confirm this, but because of its slightly bitter taste, it is one of those drinks that Jamaicans place in the “good for you” category.

Guinness isn't always just drunk straight from the bottle though. Here in Jamaica, it is used in many drink recipes and even in a few baking recipes as well. It is commonly used in punches such as peanut, oats, carrot, and even a punch with its name, the popular Jamaican Guinness punch.

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References & Sources For Why Do Jamaicans Drink Guinness?

  1. 10 reasons why Guinness is good for you (2021) Joplin. Available at: https://macadoodles.com/joplin/10-reasons-why-guinness-is-good-for-you/ (Accessed: November 12, 2022).
  2. Lutchman, A. (2022) The history of Guinness in the Caribbean, Taste Trinbago. Available at: https://tastetrinbago.com/the-history-of-guinness-in-the-caribbean/ (Accessed: November 12, 2022).

Why Do Jamaicans Drink Guinness? | Written: November 12, 2022

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