KINGSTON, Jamaica, (CANA):
THERE WAS a time when jerked meat was considered the poor man's food in Jamaica.
Now this process of marinating meat with exotic Jamaican spices, slowly cooked over a wood fire, has come of age and was celebrated June 24-25 in the form of the Portland Jerk Festival.
The event took place in Boston, which is renowned for its high production of jerked meat.
Over 40 booths featuring various forms of jerked cuisine was on display at the festival which has been sanctioned by the Jamaica Tourist Board as well as by the Tourism Product Development Company.
"The staging of the festival forms part of our overall marketing strategy to promote Jamaica as a destination offering a rich diversity in cuisine," said Jamaica's Tourism Director Fay Pickersgill.
"With growing interest in Jamaican jerk, our cuisine can develop into a major tourist attraction."
Attention
It is the first time that jerked food has received such attention though it has always held a special place in the stomachs of the average Jamaican. In fact, jerked meat, whether it be pork, chicken or fish, has become a weekend staple for the Jamaican consumer and rivals North American fast food outlets in popularity.
The "jerk" meat was popularised by the Maroons, rebellious slaves who used the spicy method to preserve their meat while fighting the British in the mountains of Jamaica.
Cooking the jerked way has remained a popular choice for Jamaicans particularly in rural areas including Boston which has a reputation for producing the best jerked meat in this country.
In Kingston, panned meat, as it is called, also became popular through vendors who sold their produce from grilled drums. The popularity of Jamaican jerked meat dropped in the face of competition from North American fast food chains that opened in Jamaica during the 1980s, but there was a resurgence in popularity in the 1990s and jerk has become big business.
So much so, manufacturers of jerk sauces have had to expand their line to meet the demands of restaurateurs and consumers alike.
Moving up
Some of their biggest clients are Jamaica's most trendy restaurants and all-inclusive hotels, most of whom have extended their menus to include jerked meat. Indeed, one of Jamaica's most popular eating spots, Island Grill, offers an all-jerk list.
Significantly, Jamaicans have taken the jerk style of cooking to countries like Canada, the United States and England, opening businesses that are thriving. Island Grill, for example, plans to open outlets in London and South Africa.
The growing popularity of jerk in North America and Europe has whetted the taste buds of celebrities, many of whom are rap stars who grew up in the New York City boroughs of Brooklyn and the Bronx, which have a strong Jamaican presence.
