| Jamaica
Find true paradise
Culture
Experience
why Jamaica is one of the most special places on earth. Immerse
yourself in our culture. It’s as vibrant as our art,
as unique as each sunset and as diverse as our people.
Truly
a nation “out of many, one people” Jamaica is
a multifaceted mosaic of international customs and traditions.
Our ancestors, from Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East,
have helped to shape our culture, creating one that is uniquely
Jamaican. When visiting our island home, take time to experience
our culture… it’s what sets us apart from other
Caribbean destinations. Reason with a Rastafarian about life,
love or politics. Lose yourself in the rhythms and movements
of a people who still refuse to be constrained. Visit one
of our many theatres or stage shows and delight in our performing
arts, showcasing everything from Jonkonnu to jazz. Want to
dance too? Join in the wild revelry of Carnival and Augus’
Mawnin or just follow the reggae beat, pulsing from street
corners and rum bars island wide. After that, share a meal
with us –ackee and saltfish with roast breadfruit, escoveitched
fish, bammy and festival – our epicurean feasts will
tantalize your taste buds. In Jamaica, you’ll discover
new worlds, and familiar ones too, lots to learn about, and
even more to love. No wonder we’ve been called ‘the
biggest little island in the world…’ It’s
a title we can live with.
Food
Our
cuisine is as diverse as our people, as unique as our island.
If there’s one thing that Jamaican people love it’s
a “likkle bickle”. We enjoy our food, and for
good reason too. Here in Jamaica, Mother Nature has blessed
us with fertile ground and a near perfect tropical climate.
For instance, we have so many varieties of mangoes that we
have run out of names and have simply started to number them.
Somehow, everything that grows in Jamaica seems just a little
sweeter, just a little more flavourful. Maybe it’s the
sun. Maybe it’s the touch of love we put into planting,
reaping and cooking.
There’s
a lot that goes into Jamaican cuisine. Our people arrived
from all corners of the globe, bearing favourite ingredients.
But on a small island, nothing stays the same for long, and
necessity dictates that everything be modified – creatively,
flavourfully, and with a little bit of life in every bite.
We use cassava from our native Arawaks, pickled meats and
fish brought by the Europeans, yams and bananas brought by
the Africans and curry by the East Indians. Put it all together,
add some more spice, and what do you get? Jamaican cuisine.
Although
many quality gourmet and fusion restaurants around the world
use our famous Jerk sauce and serve our highly acclaimed Blue
Mountain Coffee, most things taste better when they are made
here. At Boston, the heavily pimento-spiced Jerk leaves a
lasting tingle, while Middle Quarters’ pepper shrimps
heats the senses with a passionate intensity. Miss May from
Hellshire challenges anyone, even the Spanish, to Escovietch
fish better than she does. In addition to tasting better,
there are some dishes available only on the island. Good luck
trying to find Cow Foot Stew or Goat Head Soup anywhere but
in a Jamaican kitchen.
So
whether you prefer gourmet cuisine or Grandma’s cooking,
here on our island, you’ll be sure to learn something
new, taste something different, and leave full and happy.
Attractions
and Activities
If you think a small island can’t pack a punch, you
haven’t visited Jamaica. Our playful spirit, natural
beauty, and prolific history guarantee an endless assortment
of things to see and do.
FolK
Music
Thumping, infectious and passionate sounds are the
trademarks of Reggae, Jamaica’s most internationally
recognized music and the heartbeat of our people. Everywhere
you turn, hypnotic beats blare from car stereos or black boom
boxes stacked high at nightclubs and street corners.
Although
this is Jamaica’s music, its origins are in the villages
of Africa where our forefathers mourned the passing of an
ancestor, heralded the birth of a son or celebrated the end
of a harvest with song and dance.
Jamaica’s
traditional music is rich – heavy with the substance
of our collective experiences, struggles for personal freedom
and independent nationhood. Music has been a tool for rebellion
and for communication with each other, nature and the Divine.
It also provides a lyrical voice for our social and political
commentary. The fusion of our African and European heritage
has produced several forms of music that still thrive in many
modern communities.
These
folk forms fall into three main groups – tunes for work
and entertainment, religious melodies, and dance music. Each
group has its own harmony, but all share a commonality in
the types of accompaniments used, primarily the drum and small
wind and string instruments.
Log
onto the Jamaica Tourist Board for more information about
Jamaica www.visitjamaica.com
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