What is the history of jerk?
Jerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica, in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice. Historians believe that the style was developed by the Maroons, enslaved Africans who fled into the Jamaican countryside during the invasion of Jamaica in 1655 after being freed by their Spanish masters.
What exactly is Jerk cooking?
What exactly is "Jerk" cooking? Jerk refers to a way that a meat, be it chicken, beef, pork, goat, fish, vegetables or fruit is seasoned and cooked. This style comes from Jamaica.
How did the discovery of jerky change the world?
The discovery of Jerky allowed humans to both store food for long periods of time and have an easily carried, dense source of nutrition to take with them on journeys. Jerky is both flavorful and compact and almost any meat can be made into jerky.
What is jerk seasoning?
Among those traditions was jerk. Jerk, as a stand-alone term, refers to the way in which meat is seasoned, smoked and grilled. Whereas a historical jerk seasoning recipe calls for bird peppers, pimento and pepper elder, modern recipes may include Scotch bonnet peppers, scallions, garlic, ginger, pimento, thyme and cinnamon.
Where did jerk seasoning originate?
JamaicaJerk is a style of cooking native to Jamaica, in which meat is dry-rubbed or wet marinated with a hot spice mixture called Jamaican jerk spice.
Who invented jerk?
The cuisine had its origins with the Taino, who developed the jerk method and later taught it to African slaves, who in turn adapted it in creating jerk chicken. The word jerk reportedly stems from the Spanish charqui, meaning dried strips of meat similar to the modern-day jerky.
How did jerk chicken originate?
Jerk chicken is believed to have been conceived when the Maroons introduced African meat cooking techniques to Jamaica which were combined with native Jamaican ingredients and seasonings used by the Arawak Indians.
Where was jerk chicken created?
JamaicaOne of the most well-known Caribbean foods is Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Most Caribbean and Jamaican restaurants serve this dish – but do you know its origins? The origins of this recipe go back 2500 years to the settling of Jamaica by the Arawak tribe. This tribe, from Peru, used the word charqui for strips of dried meat.
When was jerk chicken founded?
According to historians, it is believed that Jamaicans started cooking jerk chicken in the 1600s. Many former slaves on the island lived outdoors and were forced to cook meat over open flames.
What is the original cooking technique for jerk?
Traditionally, it's slow-cooked over a fire or a grill composed of green pimento wood heated by burning coals. It's the burning smoke that is the key to its flavor.
What is Jamaican tradition?
Revivalism Ceremonies Jamaican Revivalism is a mix of European and African religious traditions, turned into something uniquely Jamaican. Revivalism is based on Christianity, but with an African twist – the attitudes towards nature and spirituality are influenced by African religions, as is the style of worship.
What does jerk mean in Jamaica?
Jerk basically refers to a type of meat, whether it is chicken, pork, beef, fish, goat, fruit or vegetables, and in Negril, Jamaica, a Jamaican jerk is referring to how the food is cooked. This delicious style of cooking refers to using a paste or marinade that will at least include pimento.
What is Jamaican history?
The History of Jamaica The Spanish were the first to bring sugarcane and slavery to the island. They ruled the land for a century and a half until they were defeated by the English in 1655. Slavery and sugar cultivation became Jamaica's main trade, making the English planters incredibly wealthy.
Where does the term jerk come from?
This “jerk” was known from the mid-1500s, according to the Oxford English Dictionary. Originally the verb “jerk” meant to strike or lash, as with a whip or a switch, and the noun “jerk” meant such a stroke or lash, Oxford says. The word in both forms—verb and noun—was “apparently echoic” in origin, the OED says.
Which country has the best jerk chicken?
JamaicaToday, jerk chicken is an essential part of Jamaican cuisine and a delicacy that is enjoyed by people around the world. Still, Jamaica has the best jerk chicken in the world. Here is a list of the best places in Jamaica to enjoy the famous dish.
Is Jerk Seasoning Jamaican?
Jerk cooking originated in Jamaica and you'll get all those wonderful Caribbean flavors when you cook with these spices. It is traditionally used with chicken, but it works great over shrimp and other seafood.
What is jerk in Jamaica?
Jerk is a hot, spicy, uniquely Jamaican seasoning developed over centuries.
What is pimento wood?
The meat is then marinated and slow smoked over pimento wood. Pimentia o pimento is a Spanish word for pepper and early European explorers mistook this for black pepper, so they called it pimento.
What is jerk cooking?
What exactly is "Jerk" cooking? Jerk refers to a way that a meat, be it chicken, beef, pork, goat, fish, vegetables or fruit is seasoned and cooked. This style comes from Jamaica. The typical cooking style uses a marinade or paste that includes at least pimento, which is often called allspice, and scotch bonnet peppers, also known as habenero.
What does "jerk" mean in Spanish?
The word started as a noun and then became a verb as in "Jerking" which meant to poke holes in the meat so ...
How did the Boars learn to preserve meat?
With food in short supply the learned to catch wild boars in the forest. Using salt , peppers and spices they learned to preserve the meat. They knew not when their next kill would be. The meat was spiced and wrapped in leaves to keep.
Why was dried beef important?
This was important as the dried beef could be taken on journeys and eaten as is or chopped and reconstituted in boiling water. This ancient technique goes on today and is known as jerky. In 1492 Columbus claimed it for Spain and enslaved the Arawak indians. Soon they died and were replaced by African slaves.
Where are jerk huts?
Jerk "huts" are all over the Caribbean Islands, and you can find them by the lovely smell. Many times they are shacks that are octaganal or circular built around a telephone pole to support the thatched roof. Dining is outside, as well as the cooking of the food.
How many jars of jerk seasoning are there in Jamaica?
Every year, Grace Foods, the island’s largest manufacturer and exporter of Jamaican food products, sells close to three million jars of jerk seasoning (paste) globally. According to Jamaica’s official culinary authorities, for a dish to be classified as “authentic jerk,” the meat has to be smoked over pimento wood.
What is a jerk in Jamaica?
As Carolyn Cooper, notable Jamaican literary scholar, explains, jerk is “one of the enduring legacies of the fusion of African and Taíno cultures in Jamaica.”. The Taíno, an Arawak people, were members of the Caribbean’s Indigenous population.
How to make a cast iron skillet into a smoker?
If you don’t own one, here’s how to convert your oven into a makeshift smoker: Line a cast-iron skillet or metal baking tray that’s at least an inch deep with aluminum foil. Cover with pimento wood chips and light on fire.
What is the Jamaican axiom of "ten stories in one"?
The Jamaican axiom of “ten stories in one” encapsulates jerk. The dish represents both a fascinating facet of food anthropology and a link to our ancestors. Jerk reflects these individuals’ ingenuity and ability to develop flavors from a collection of hunted and foraged ingredients. The Jamaican diaspora—fueled by a national pledge that dictates Jamaicans should play their part in “advancing the welfare of the whole human race”—will fiercely protect both its history and authenticity.
How long to smoke a 12 lb turkey?
A 12-pound turkey will take around six-and-a-half hours in a traditional smoker set at 240 degrees Fahrenheit. A leg of ham, meanwhile, requires approximately one-and-a-half hours per pound at 225 degrees. Many grocery store chains across the U.S. carry ready-to-use jerk seasoning paste from manufacturers like Grace.
What did the Maroons do to feed themselves?
To feed themselves in the face of adversity, the Maroons had to hunt, prepare, preserve, transport, nourish and sustain while always on the move—often for decades. Ferguson puts it best: “Jerk is freedom manifested in food.”
Where is Jerk pork?
Jerk pork in Trelawny, a parish in Jamaica’s mountainous Cockpit Country, where Maroons fled to evade the British. Courtesy of Grace Foods
What does "jerk" mean in Jamaican?
Ask a Jamaican what the word “jerk” means they they’ll tell you it refers to the motion in either turning the meat over burning coal or in chopping off the hunks of meat for customers.
What is jerk seasoning?
Jerk is a complex blend of seasonings including scallions, onions, scotch bonnet peppers, salt, thyme, allspice, black pepper and many other spices. All of its ingredients grow on the island’s fertile green landscape. During the time of slavery, the British brought slaves to Jamaica in order to guarantee a steady supply of sugar, coffee, cocoa, ...
What did the Maroons use to make their own jerk?
The Maroons would blend an array of spices and herbs that they would later use to marinate and cook the wild game they hunted. This led to the invention of the now famous “Jamaican Jerk”.
Where does Jamaican jerk come from?
It is imported directly from Jamaica by Kingston-Miami Trading Company, which is a 100% owned and operated Jamaican company with over 28 years of experience in ...
Why did the British bring slaves to Jamaica?
During the time of slavery, the British brought slaves to Jamaica in order to guarantee a steady supply of sugar, coffee, cocoa, pimento, and other goods to merchants. A group of these slaves escaped into the mountains and were later named the Maroons.
Is Jamaican jerk seasoning real?
The History of Real Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning. When one thinks of Jamaica a few things come to mind: white sandy beaches, Reggae music, and Jamaican Jerk. Jerk cooking is 100% Jamaican right down to its very core. Fragrant, savory, sweet and tenaciously hot, jerk is truly a part of Jamaica’s history and can be traced back hundreds ...
Where did the word "jerk" come from?
The explanation refers to the English form of a Spanish word of Indian origin that described a method of preparing pork. That method was then modified and then preserved by the Maroons. The legendary mecca for Jerk is Boston Beach on the northeastern end of Jamaica.
What is the history of jerky?
History of Jerky. "Ch'arki", a name derived from the Quechuan language of the Incas (which literally translates into "dried meat"), later evolved into what we now call jerky. The discovery of Jerky allowed humans to both store food for long periods of time and have an easily carried, dense source of nutrition to take with them on journeys.
What did the Natives know about jerky?
When the first Europeans arrived in the New World, they found that the Natives were making a dried meat product that did not need to be consumed immediately and they instantly knew that jerky would be beneficial to them.
Why was jerky popular in North America?
Jerky reached its height of popularity during the expansion into North America, where traders and explorers prized it as an essential source of nutrition as they traveled to new areas with limited accessibility to fresh food and supplies along the way.
When was jerky first made?
Jerky is both flavorful and compact and almost any meat can be made into jerky. Some say Native Americans made the first jerky (buffalo jerky) thousands of years ago, while others say an ancient Inca tribe called the Quechua made jerky as early as the 1500's.
What spices are used in Jamaican jerky?
The Jamaican Maroons additionally cultivated whatever spices could be found in the undergrowth to give the meat flavor, with Scotch bonnet peppers and pimento berries (allspice) being the most popular options. It’s these ingredients that lend jerk the intense heat it’s well-known for today.
What is 3 dives?
3 Dives is one of many venues that prepare jerk dishes in the traditional way. To get an idea of what this entails, it is indeed necessary to travel back several centuries. To a time before Christopher Columbus set eyes on Jamaica’s verdant shores–and long before the island became peppered with slave plantations.
What does the jerk symbolise?
In its purest (and tastiest) form, jerk represents a union of two major influences in Jamaica’s long—and often tragic—road to freedom.
Where did the Jamaican jerk originate?
While the basic form of jerking likely pre-dates the Taino’s move into Jamaica ’s mountainous interiors, the very act of this migration is what set the wheels in motion for its eventual evolution into the world-famous Jamaican jerk of today.
What is Jamaica known for?
A nation that was both scorched and birthed from colonialism and slavery, 21st century Jamaica is largely associated with sun-soaked beach breaks and laid-back vibes. It’s also a country with a strong sense of identity–and this definitely extends to its culinary delights.
What is the flavor of jerk?
A dish that definitely falls into this category is one synonymous with Caribbean cuisine. Piquant and peppery, the flavor–and, indeed, the scent–of jerk is unmistakable. A must-try for meat-eaters, you’ll find it on many island menus, although its roots undeniably lie in Jamaica.
Can you smoke jerk seasoning on grilled chicken?
As Lloydie explains: “Brushing a jar of jerk seasoning on grilled chicken doesn’t make it jerk. You will have a sample of the flavor. Smoked using pimento wood is the only way to lock in the true jerk taste.”
Where did jerk come from?
Jerk got its start with the 1655 British invasion that firmly established The Who as the most overrated band of all time… er, drove the Spanish out of Jamaica. Spanish slaves escaped to the mountains, joining up with Jamaica’s first inhabitants, the Arawak Indians, who’d been smoking and slow-cooking meats for thousands of years. Indian cooking techniques melded with African spices and seasoning, and together they adapted to Jamaica’s natural resources. Boom. That’s where the jerk comes from.
What does one jerk?
You can jerk most anything worth eating. Obviously chicken is kind of a big deal in jerk world, with pork coming in a close second, but goat, lamb, beef, rabbit, fish, shrimp, lobster, various vegetables and even some fruits regularly get the treatment.
Where are the best places to get jerk?
In Jamaica, jerk huts are scattered all over the island, though the best vendors are in Boston Bay in Port Antonio (above). The Boston Bay Jerk Center, in particular: “My favorite is Micky's shack. They also sell their jerk sauce by the bottle and it's the best I've had anywhere,” says photojournalist Lebawit Lily Girma, who basically knows everything there is to know about eating and drinking in Jamaica. Another notable local ("nocal"? no, maybe not), Zickie Allgrove from Island Runaways, also swears by the Center, and two other choice spots: JoJo Jerk Pit in Kingston and Ossie's Jerk Center in Negril.
Can I get jerk in America?
You know it, son. A growing number of festivals have popped up recently, the best being the oldest: The Grace Jamaican Jerk Festival, held each November down in South Florida. Music and entertainment on three stages, domino competitions, and more than 30 different jerk booths, one even featuring jerk sauce shipped in directly from The Boston Bay Jerk Center.
Do you have a recipe for me?
Of course. Making your own sauce is an easy, two step process that only gets complicated depending on how intent you are on mixing, matching, augmenting, or subtracting ingredients to achieve the perfect level of heat and flavor. Here’s the basic recipe from Jamaicans.com:
Do they make jerk ice cream?
Apparently so! And now you officially know everything you need to know about jerk.
What is the most popular jerk in Mobay?
The most popular name in jerk, especially in MoBay, is Scotchie's. There's a lot of heated debate over whether or not they're the best, but the guys who run the place got their start in jerk cooking in Boston Bay, so the authenticity is definitely there. Another good MoBay option: the Pork Pit.
What is jerk chicken known for?
Rosen/Eat Your World ( A Britannica Publishing Partner) In Jamaica, jerk chicken is famous for its pungent marinade, marked by allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers, which are similar to habanero chili peppers. (Holes are usually poked into the meat to enable the marinade to spread.)
What is a jerk?
Jerk refers to a style of cooking in which the main ingredient—which most often is chicken but may also be beef, pork, goat, boar, seafood, or vegetables —is coated in spices and slow-cooked over a fire or grill traditionally composed of green pimento wood positioned over burning coals; the resulting smoke is key to the flavour of the dish.
What is the Caribbean Sea?
Caribbean Sea, suboceanic basin of the western Atlantic Ocean, lying between latitudes 9° and 22° N and longitudes 89° and 60° W. It is approximately 1,063,000 square miles (2,753,000 square km) in extent. To the south it is bounded by the coasts of Venezuela, Colombia, and Panama; to the west…
Where did jerk chicken originate?
The cuisine had its origins with the Taino, who developed the jerk method and later taught it to African slaves, who in turn adapted it in creating jerk chicken. The word jerk reportedly stems from the Spanish charqui, meaning dried strips of meat similar to the modern-day jerky.
Where does chicken come from?
chicken, (Gallus gallus), any of more than 60 breeds of medium-sized poultry that are primarily descended from the wild red jungle fowl (Gallus gallus, family Phasianidae, order Galliformes) of India . The chicken is perhaps the most widely domesticated fowl, raised worldwide for its meat and eggs.…
Who is Laura Siciliano?
Laura Siciliano-Rosen is a freelance writer and editor based in New York City and the co-founder of the website Eat Your World (EYW), an original guide to regional foods and drinks around the globe. Launched... Jerk chicken, a spicy grilled-meat dish mostly associated with Jamaica but common throughout the Caribbean.
What was Nero's punishment for Rubria?
In one account, Nero forced himself on the priestess Rubria. For her punishment, she was entombed inside a small cave and left to starve to death. Another torture supported by Nero involved the accused digging his own grave. After it was dug, a stake was set inside the grave.
Why was the accused pushed into the grave?
The accused was then bound and pushed into the grave. If his crime were minor, he would be pushed so that the stake pierced through his heart. Anyone convicted of a heinous crime was pushed so that the stake mortally wounded him. He was then left to die in excruciating pain or was buried alive.
What punishment did the common citizen get for a soldier who refused to climb the social ladder?
Climbing up the social ladder was forbidden. If a common citizen decided to penetrate an unwilling soldier, the punishment was public castration. If the soldier willingly allowed the common citizen to penetrate him, he would be publicly disemboweled.
What happens to a donkey's body in the sun?
The donkey’s body was kept in the sun. It would begin to decompose—with the living victim inside being cooked by the heat. Maggots would crawl all over the accused, and vultures would peck at the animal’s decaying flesh. Death, while welcomed, came slowly for the victim of this torture.
What was the meaning of the higher status in Rome?
In ancient Rome, the higher your status, the more people you were allowed to bone without consequence. For example, the emperor would get it on with anyone he wanted. A general could make a move on a lieutenant or a common citizen, and soldiers could go after common citizens.
What were the tortures used in ancient Rome?
10 Horrifying Tortures Used in Ancient Rome. In ancient Rome, the general rule was that slaves could be freely tortured. In fact, it was highly recommended that any free man accused of a crime would have his slaves tortured in his place, often to the death, so that a verdict could be reached. That didn’t stop Rome’s elite from torturing ...
Who performed heinous torture on young women?
Saint Gregory described a heinous torture that was performed on young women by the people of Heliopolis while under Roman rule:
