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See also: Jamaican Cuisine; Jamaican Jerk; Pickapeppa Sauce; Walkerswood Foods
JAMAICA & JAMAICAN FOOD TRIVIA
Both the National Fruit and National Dish of Jamaica is Ackee.
First Coconut tree in Jamaica: A stone monument on the Palisadoes near to Port Royal records that “the first coconut tree was planted March 4, 1869 by John Norton Esquire Superintendent of the General Penitentiary”. Within 20 years 20,000 trees had been planted and flourished for a while, an ambitious project aimed at covering the Palisadoes in Coconut trees. Eventually disease destroyed them leaving only the stone monument.
Most of the Jamaica's Blue Mountain Coffee, one of the most prized and expensive brands, is exported to Japan. (2008)
Pimento (Allspice): The pimento plant is native to Jamaica and is a major agricultural crop which is exported mainly to Russia, Germany and the U.S.A. The Spaniards named it Pimienta de Jamaica. Today it is widely known as Allspice - a combination of many spices. Alspice is made from ripe berries that are dried and pounded to a fine powder. Pimento (allspice) is widely used in the meat curing and in the confectionery and food processing industries. Ripe berries are also used to make a liqueur, and the oil distilled from the leaves is used in mens fragrances, etc.
The first mango plants introduced into Jamaica were ‘captured’ on the high seas on their way from the East Indians to the West Indies by Lord Rodney’s ship H.M.S Flora in 1782. They were first planted at the private garden at Gordon Town, St. Andrew, belonging to Hinton East. The seedlings were numbered on arrival, eg. the number eleven. The Bombay mango was introduced later in 1868 at Castleton Gardens.
Jamaica Tourist Board (visitjamaica.com)
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