Jamaica’s cuisine is very unique, with meals and drinks influenced by immigrants from various places around the world such as India, Africa, and China. The nourishing food of Jamaica has a rich flavorful punch like no other due to the large variety of spices, herbs and flavors such as scotch bonnet peppers, Allspice, and coconuts used in almost every dish. So to make sure you don’t miss out on JA’s delicious cuisines, snacks, and drinks we made a list of must-eat dishes. 

Typical Jamaican Dishes

Ackee & Saltfish

Ackee and Saltfish is Jamaica’s national dish and is served mainly for breakfast. It is usually served with boiled green bananas, breadfruit, Johnny cakes, and boiled dumpling.

Curry Goat

This is a dish that has Indian influence and if you never had goat before this is probably one of the best dishes to be introduced to it. Curry goat was a dish that was made only on special occasions but now you can enjoy it any time. This meal is usually served with rice and peas and a carrot-cabbage slaw.

Oxtail

Yes this is exactly what you think it is but it taste way better than you think. At one point this part of the ox was considered scrap meat and only poor families would eat it.

Escovitch Fish

The fish (King Fish, Snapper) is usually marinated overnight to enhance the flavor and then fried the next day. It is served with a peppery-vinegar dressing made of onions, carrot, peppers and of course scotch bonnet pepper.

Callaloo

A leafy green that is said to have a spinach like texture but I think it’s closer to collard greens than spinach. As a main dish it is usually made with cod/saltfish. Callaloo can also be a side, where it is cooked with onions, tomatoes, garlic, and carrots.

Ital Dish

If you are in Jamaica, you have to try an ital dish made by a true Rastafarian. Ital means vital, meaning the ingredients used are pure and natural with no preservatives, or processed ingredients or any other cʀᴀzʏ sнιт that is in our food these days.

Typical Jamaican Sides

Festival

This was by far my favorite side dish in JA. Festival is a fried dumpling made with cornmeal, flour, salt, and the reason for the unique taste, sugar! This side is usually accompanied by jerked meat or fried fish.

Bammy

Another favorite of mine! Bammy is a flat round bread made of grated cassava (yucca) that can either be fried, steamed or baked. I personally prefer the baked ones as the fried ones are a bit too greasy for my taste. This side can be served with any dish and is also a good to-go snack.

< Source : https://www.roadaffair.com/must-eat-dishes-in-jamaica/ >