| Jamaica is a culturally diverse country whose | | | | historians believe that this method is what pioneered |
| population most notably includes Africans, | | | | barbecuing. |
| African-Europeans, and Chinese. The various races | | | | At present, one of the staples in Jamaican diet is |
| have reached Jamaica either through expeditions to | | | | breadfruit. Introduced in the 1700s together with |
| conquer the land or for trading purposes that have | | | | other fruits and crops once unknown to the island, |
| left countless influences on Jamaican culture, | | | | these imports became part of Jamaican cuisine as we |
| particularly in Jamaican cuisine. Jamaican food may not | | | | know it. African settlers also introduced the use of |
| be as popular as Chinese, Japanese, or Chinese food, | | | | okra, callaloo, and ackee, which are now common |
| but it is strongly making its mark in the food industry. | | | | ingredients in Jamaican cooking. |
| Original Jamaican inhabitants, the Arawak and the | | | | Chinese and Indian servants who once worked in |
| Carib Indian tribes have established a rich variety of | | | | vast Jamaican coffee plantations also imported their |
| cooking styles and techniques, using the fresh | | | | own cooking methods and ingredients to Jamaica. |
| produce native to the island. Although Caribs are | | | | Their influence is apparent in Jamaican's fondness for |
| known to be cannibals, they are known to spice raw | | | | curried goat, a Jamaican favorite usually reserved for |
| meat and seafood using chili peppers, a staple in | | | | special occasions. Rice is also included in the vast |
| Jamaican cooking. Arawaks, on the other hand, | | | | array of Jamaican food and offers neutral flavors to |
| devised a slow-cooking method of meat by placing it | | | | complement naturally spicy Jamaican cuisine. |
| on a makeshift wooden grill over open fire. Food | | | | |