Best Jamaican

Bob Marley was a Jamaican reggae singer, songwriter, and musician who became an international icon of reggae music and Rastafari culture. Rising to fame with his band the Wailers, he released acclaimed albums including 'Catch a Fire' (1973) and 'Exodus' (1977). His music often addressed themes of po...

Rockers is a 1978 Jamaican crime film directed by Theodoros Bafaloukos that serves as a cultural document of the reggae music scene in Kingston. The narrative follows Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace, a drummer who distributes records via his motorcycle and clashes with local organized crime. It is distin...

Jamaican rice and peas is a traditional Caribbean dish consisting of rice and legumes—typically kidney beans or gungo peas—simmered in seasoned coconut milk. The cooking liquid is infused with aromatics such as scallions, thyme, garlic, and whole Scotch bonnet peppers, which add flavor without makin...

Lorna Goodison is a distinguished Caribbean poet recognized internationally for her evocative explorations of memory, identity, and the human condition. Born in Jamaica, she has been Poet Laureate of Jamaica since 2017. Her work frequently examines themes relevant to women, Jamaican culture, and bro...

Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Sauce is a commercially produced condiment manufactured by Walkerswood Caribbean Foods, a cooperative established in Jamaica in 1978. The sauce incorporates key ingredients of authentic Jamaican jerk seasoning, including scotch bonnet peppers, thyme, allspice, a...

Jamaican Curry Goat represents a significant culinary tradition blending West African cooking techniques with South Asian spices brought by indentured laborers to Jamaica. The dish features slow-cooked goat meat infused with a complex curry powder blend, including allspice and scotch bonnet peppers,...

Marlon James’ *A Brief History of Seven Killings* explores a complex narrative rooted in Jamaica's political landscape during the 1970s. The novel recounts a brutal plot targeting Bob Marley and his associates, intertwining crime, historical events, and the influence of international organizations....

Louise Bennett-Coverley was a prominent Jamaican poet and performance artist. She gained recognition for her work authentically representing Jamaican folk traditions and the nation’s distinctive patois dialect. Her performances and writings from the mid-20th century helped establish Jamaican Creole...

Allspice is a spice derived from the dried, unripe berries of the Pimenta dioica tree, an evergreen native to the Caribbean and Central America. English colonists gave it this name because its flavor profile resembles a blend of cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. It is available whole as dried berries or...

Brown Stew Chicken is a traditional Jamaican dish consisting of chicken pieces that are seasoned, browned, and then simmered in a rich, savory gravy. The signature dark color is typically achieved by caramelizing sugar in the cooking pot or by adding a commercial browning agent before the braising p...

Created in Jamaica in 1921, Pickapeppa Sauce is a widely recognized liquid condiment known for its sweet and savory flavor profile. The sauce is produced by blending tomatoes, onions, mangoes, cane vinegar, and various spices, which are then aged in oak barrels. It is frequently compared to traditio...

Cannibal is a 2016 poetry collection by Safiya Sinclair, who was born in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The collection uses Caribbean imagery and language to examine themes of colonial history, race, and gender. It received the Whiting Award for Poetry in 2018.

The Vervain Hummingbird, *Mellisuga mellisuga*, is a tiny hummingbird species found only in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic (Hispaniola). It’s notable as one of the smallest birds globally and closely related to the Bee Hummingbird. This endemic hummingbird is primarily for birdwatchers and resea...

Walkerswood Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce is a traditional Jamaican condiment produced by Walkerswood Caribbean Foods, a company based in the rural farming community of Walkerswood, Jamaica. The hot sauce is formulated using indigenous Scotch bonnet peppers, an ingredient valued in Caribbean cuisine fo...

Smile Orange is a 1976 Jamaican satirical film directed by playwright Trevor Rhone, who adapted the screenplay from his own stage play. The story centers on a charismatic but manipulative hotel waiter who exploits foreign tourists to achieve his financial goals, providing a sharp critique of the Car...

Walkerswood Traditional Jerk Seasoning is a wet spice blend originating from Jamaica. It’s notable for its intensely flavorful profile derived from allspice, scotch bonnet peppers, and other traditional Jamaican herbs and spices. This jerk marinade is commonly used by home cooks and restaurants seek...

Red peas soup is a traditional Jamaican stew primarily made with red kidney beans, locally known as red peas. The dish is simmered with salted pork or beef, coconut milk, and aromatics such as scallion, thyme, and scotch bonnet pepper. It characteristically includes starchy ground provisions like ya...

The Ortanique is a naturally occurring tangor discovered in Jamaica during the early 20th century. Its name is a portmanteau of the words "orange," "tangerine," and "unique," reflecting its distinct hybrid heritage. The fruit is characterized by its bright orange color, relatively thin rind, and a s...

Rice and Peas represents a cornerstone of Caribbean cuisine particularly within Jamaica. It’s a flavorful bean dish built around simmered kidney beans infused with creamy coconut milk and aromatic spices. The recipe draws upon West African culinary traditions, offering a comforting and distinctly Ja...

Jamaican Curry Chicken is a flavorful dish rooted in Caribbean cuisine. It features chicken simmered in a rich sauce built around Jamaican curry powder – a blend typically containing turmeric, allspice, scotch bonnet peppers, and thyme. This combination creates a distinctive spicy and aromatic flavo...

The Monty Alexander Trio is a piano-led jazz ensemble associated with Jamaican-born pianist Monty Alexander, who began building his international career during the 1960s. Across changing bass-and-drum lineups, Alexander has combined the swing vocabulary of mainstream jazz with rhythmic and melodic e...

Walkerswood Traditional Scotch Bonnet Pepper Sauce is a Jamaican-style hot sauce centered on Scotch bonnet peppers, a Capsicum chinense cultivar known for pronounced heat and a fruity aroma. The sauce uses an acidic, seasoned base that makes it suitable as both a table condiment and a cooking ingred...

Couples Swept Away is a classic adults-only destination in Negril, Jamaica. It offers an intimate and romantic atmosphere with high-quality service and diverse dining options. The resort is known for its beautiful beach location and focus on creating a relaxing environment for couples. While it may...

Songs of Jamaica is a poetry collection published in 1912 by Jamaican writer Claude McKay, marking his literary debut. The work is notable for its pioneering use of Jamaican Patois, bringing the rhythms and dialect of the island's peasantry into formal English verse. McKay wrote the collection while...

Pickapeppa Original Sauce is a Jamaican condiment manufactured by the Pickapeppa Company in Shooters Hill, Jamaica, since 1921. The sauce is composed of a blend of tomatoes, mangoes, scotch bonnet peppers, onions, and vinegar, which is aged in oak barrels to develop its flavor profile. Often referre...

Run down is a traditional Caribbean stew originating from Jamaica. The dish features salted mackerel or other locally available fish that is slowly simmered in a spiced coconut milk base. During the cooking process, the coconut milk separates and reduces down into a thick, rich, oily sauce, which gi...

The Ugli fruit, also known by its trade name uniq fruit, is a Jamaican tangelo created as a natural hybrid of a grapefruit, orange, and tangerine. It was discovered growing wild near Brown's Town, Jamaica, in 1917. The fruit is recognizable by its rough, greenish-yellow, and loosely fitting wrinkled...

Claude McKay (1889–1948) was a Jamaican-American writer and a foundational figure of the Harlem Renaissance. He gained widespread recognition for his 1919 sonnet "If We Must Die," a militant response to the racial violence of the Red Summer that was later quoted by Winston Churchill. In addition to...

The Gleaner is a prominent English-language newspaper published in Kingston, Jamaica, and widely recognized as the country's oldest continuously published daily. Founded in 1834 by Joshua and Jacob DeCordova, it has served as a primary source of news for Jamaicans both locally and in the diaspora. T...