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**#1-** Jamaican food is highly reflective of their culture. Many popular dishes bring together a blend of different flavors. Jamaican culture today is based on a blend of different cultural aspects practiced by different peoples that have inhabited Jamaica at one time or another. The Spanish, British, African, Indian, and Chinese, who all influenced Jamaica at some point in time, influence Jamaican culture, and their cuisine. In addition, many dishes are hot and spicy. These adjectives can also be used to describe certain parts of the Jamaican lifestyle. Their art department is the most reflective of this, with their unique styles of dance, music, theatre, film, and writing. Plus, one of the most well known styles of Caribbean cooking is Jamaica’s “Jerk-style”, which is Jamaica’s own distinct method of barbecuing meats (the most common being chicken). The same can be said about the Jamaican lifestyle and behaviors: You won’t find anything like them anywhere else in the world.

**#2-** Jerk Chicken uses influence from the indigenous people of the island of Jamaica. More specifically, the Spanish. Jerk chicken incorporates many different types of spices, flavors and cooking techniques. The spice crops used in Jerk chicken are actually crops that were introduced by Southeast Asians. Jerk chicken is very popular throughout Jamaica, and most of the Jamaican population has been introduced to Jerk chicken. Chicken is not the only food that the Jamaicans apply the Jerk rub to, though. They also apply the rub to pork, shrimp, beef, tofu, fish and shellfish. The Jamaican Jerk recipe has spread around to most of the islands that make up Jamaica. The Jerk recipe represents the cultural norms because most of Jamaica uses the Jerk recipe. It is extremely common in Jamaica to see road-side stands cooking Jerk chicken, and selling it to the public. The Arawak Indians, which were inhabitants of the Caribbean, were the first ever tribe to cook with the Jamaican Jerk spices. They invented the work 'barbacoa', which eventually influenced the American term Barbeque. The Arawak Indians influenced the people of the Caribbean to use spices in their cooking. The neighbor tribe of the Arawak, the Caribs, started using the Jerk spice on things like fish and shellfish. The Arawak also influenced the people of modern day Jamaica and even modern day American recipes. The modern day Jamaicans still cook using the original Jerk chicken recipe, and many modern day American recipes use alternations of the recipe in their homes for their own cuisines. The Caribbean is known for their use of tropical spices in their foods. Many of the surrounding islands of the Caribbean use an alternation of the Jerk recipe in their cultural cookings. The Jamaicans have influenced their neighboring Caribbean islands with their Jerk recipe. It is very 'normal' to find that much of the food throughout the Caribbean island uses an alteration of the Jerk spice. The Caribbean island uses many tropical style foods, originally introduced by the Arawaks. Jerk chicken has become a favorite in not only Jamaican culture, but Caribbean culture, and American culture as well. Jerk chicken recipe alterations have also been seen around South America as well. Jerk rub has been a major cultural influence to the islands of the Caribbean's.

**#3**-Ackee and Codfish: Ackee and Codfish is a dish that consists of a local fruit that is served boiled with cooked codfish. This dish is a reflection of the Jamaican culture, and affects the way other countries perceive them. Ackee is not eaten by inhabitants of other Caribbean islands. The fruit is said to be used for witchcraft. For this reason, Jamaicans are feared by citizens of other countries, and are seen as unique and strong in spirit. Curried Goat: Curried goat is typically served with white rice, and is most often eaten at celebrations. Many Jamaicans feel that a celebration is incomplete without this dish. This is actually quite similar to the American culture. Just like we have certain foods for celebrations, like turkey on thanksgiving and the tradition of having a cake when celebrating a birthday, they celebrate virtually everything with curried goat. This includes holidays, funerals, birthdays, and many other occasions. Duckanoo: Duckanoo is a dessert that consists of cornmeal, coconut, spices and brown sugar, and is tied up in a banana leaf. This dish reflects the African influences on the country. When Africans were being brought over as slaves, they brought parts of their culture with them, including food. The spices that are found in this dessert came from African influence, along with spices used in many other dishes. In addition to the African influence, this dish shows what is grown in the area. Fruit, like bananas, grow very well in Jamaica due to the tropical climate, and it is used in many dishes. Escovitch fish: Not only is there an African influence in Jamaica, but there is a Spanish Jewish influence as well. This dish consists of fish marinated in escovitch. Escovitch was brought to jamaica by the Spanish. Its made with mostly vinegar and onions, along with other ingredients and spices. Also, this dish reflects the frequent use of sea food in Jamaican dishes. Because of the location of the country, sea food is a big part of Jamaican food and culture.

**#4-** Food is vital to the Jamaican culture. Food around the world has different meaning for different cultures; in some it's viewed as a necessity while others it’s shown as a celebration. In the Caribbean, the food is laced with exotic spices namely nutmeg and allspice and their abundance of seafood shows their status as island nations. However, most obviously people need it for sustenance.  11% of the Jamaican population is classified as undernourished and they do not receive adequate nutrition in their diet. This advertises their status as highly diverse, the northern coast being rich with elaborate living quarters and the southern coast still hanging on to their roots as slaves, struggling in poverty. Additionally, 10% of Jamaican children under age five are underweight and 10% are stunted. Therefore, this shows even though they need food to survive, in Jamaica they cannot always get it.  Additionally, food is important to the culture because it reflects there past history. It shows the Spanish colonized them after being inhabited by several native tribes. This is show in the western "grill", a method of cooking where you place your food on a grate places on four stakes over charcoal or fire. The grill was first used by an Amerindian tribe called Arawaks who roasted seafood and meat on a grate suspended on four sticks called a barbacoa. This later became the origin of western barbecue. To add to it, the Arawaks grew callalo (spinach-like crop), papayas, guava, maize, potatoes, peanuts, peppers, and beans. All of these ingredients are now prominent in Caribbean cooking, especially in Jamaica. Another neighboring tribe, the Caribs, ate mostly fish and peppers. This also demonstrates the fact that they are islands and have an abundance of water and aquatic life. Food also reflects their past history because the Spanish imported pigs, cattle, goats, sugar cane, lemons, limes, and coconuts all which once again are prominent in their present day cooking. It additionally shows the Spanish colonized them because when the Spanish brought African American slaves from the west coast of Africa, the slaves brought ackee, peas, beans, and peanuts. Their influence was so prominent that ackee, a tropical fruit, is now the national fruit of Jamaica.  Furthermore, food is important to the Jamaican culture because it acts as a centerpiece for holidays. Because 80% of the population is Christian, most celebrate big holidays like Christmas and Easter. During these celebrations, they have big feasts consisting of jerk chicken, curried goat, and rice with gungo beans. Gungo beans are a Christmas specialty only available around the holiday season. Additionally, they drink sorrel and make elaborate cakes like the Black Jamaican cake in which fruits are soaked in bottles of rum or at least two weeks then the cake is baked and sat out of up to four weeks to improve the taste. This dedication and time put into making food shows it is important to them, especially around the holidays.  Lastly, food is important to the Jamaican culture because it allows them to relax and socialize. A Jamaican meal is usually a relaxing and social time in which family members can talk and catch up. The dishes are set on the table all at once so everyone can just take what they want and everyone can sit down at once. Moreover, table manners are considered less important than enjoying the meal and company. During the meal, prayer is said before and after and you usually eat outdoors. This shows religion also is incorporated into their everyday lives and food and beliefs go hand in hand.  To wrap it up, food is important to the Jamaican culture because it allows them to survive, it reflects their past history, it acts as a centerpiece during religious festivals, and it creates a relaxing and social atmosphere in which they can wind down and interact with others.


 * Jay's Jerk Chicken Recipe:**
 * 6 green onions, chopped
 * 1 onion, chopped
 * 1 jalapeno pepper, seeded and minced
 * 3/4 cup soy sauce
 * 1/2 cup distilled white vinegar
 * 1/4 cup vegetable oil
 * 2 tablespoons brown sugar
 * 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
 * 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
 * 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
 * 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
 * 1 1/2 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves

1. In a food processor, combine the green onions, onion, jalapeno, soy sauce, vinegar, vegetable oil, brown sugar, thyme, garlic, nutmeg and allspice. Process for 15-20 seconds.

2. Put the marinade into a medium bowl, and place chicken in the marinade.

3. Allow the chicken to marinade 4-6 hours or over night.

4. Grill the chicken on high heat for 10 minutes on each side to allow flavors to soak in.

"Culture of Jamaica." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 01 June 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_culture>.

====<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">"Food in Jamaica - Jamaican Food, Jamaican Cuisine - Traditional, Popular, Dishes, Recipe, Diet, Common, Meals, Rice, Famous, Main, People, Make, Customs, Fruits, Country, Bread, Vegetables, Bread." //Food in Every Country//. Web. 01 June 2011. <http://www.foodbycountry.com/Germany-to-Japan/Jamaica.html>. ==== <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">Cassidy, Frederic Gomes. "Jamaican Cuisine." //Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia//. Web. 01 June 2011. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jamaican_cuisine>.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 90%;">"Popular Local Jamaican Foods." //Welcome To Jamaica://. Web. 02 June 2011. <http://www.specular-jamaica.com/Jamaican-foods.html>.