Banana and plantains are popular staples and fruits enjoyed by many Jamaican household. It is estimated that over ninety percent of all Jamaican family consume this fruit making this crop a very important crop to cultivate in terms of Jamaica’s national food security programme.
How did plantains come to Jamaica?
The Gros Michel is said to have been introduced to Jamaica by Jean Francois Pouyat, a French botanist and chemist who settled here in 1820. He brought the fruit back from Martinique to his coffee estate in an attempt perhaps to diversify his produce.
Do plantains grow in the Caribbean?
As Komolafe notes in her Times piece, “[L]ike bananas, plantains grow in tropical and subtropical climates across the globe, ensuring that they are always in season and making them a crucial ingredient in cuisines across West Africa, South and Central America, India and the Caribbean.”
Which country brought plantains to Jamaica?
Sweet orange, sour orange (Seville and Valencia oranges), lime and lemon, tamarind, coconut, banana, and grapes are some of the plants and trees that the Spaniards brought to Jamaica. They also introduced the sugar cane, ginger, date palm, pomegranate, plantains and figs.
Where can plantains be grown?
Plantains are believed to have originated in Southeast Asia. Two groups of plantains are thought to have a common origin: the horn plantain and the French plantain. Both types grow in India, Africa, Egypt, and tropical America. The French plantains also occur in Indonesia and the islands of the Pacific.
What are Jamaican bananas called?
The traditional varieties of bananas grown in Jamaica include Robusta, Williams (Ziv), Grand Nain, Lacatan, and Gros Michel.
What fruit is Jamaica known for?
Jamaica’s national fruit, the ackee is commonly used as the main ingredient in the island’s traditional food dish, ackee and saltfish.
Are there banana trees in Jamaica?
Countries where bananas are a main export crop are Belize, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Panama, Suriname and Colombia.
Why did Jamaica stop exporting bananas?
This was not a successful enterprise as UK market prices had plunged and Jamaica’s cost of production was high. Jamaica’s banana exports to the UK since then have been minimal. Exports from Jamaica are now mainly to Canada, UK and the Cayman Islands.
What country is known for plantain?
Cameroon is the world’s largest producer of plantains. The country exports approximately 4.31 million tons of plantains yearly. They are largely produced in the southern and western part of Cameroon. The fertile soils allow the plantains to grow well.
What food did the African bring to Jamaica?
Benjie points as an example to the island’s produce, its yams and plantains, which were first brought from Africa to Jamaica during the days of slavery as fuel for enslaved Africans on the island’s plantations.
What did Chinese bring to Jamaica?
The Chinese were brought as indentured labourers to work on the sugar estates following the the emancipation of the slaves. However they disliked the nature of the work and soon left the left the estates and set up small grocery shops all across the island.
Why did Chinese go to Jamaica?
The influx of Chinese indentured immigrants aimed to replace the outlawed system of black slavery. It entailed signing a five-year contract that bound the laborers physically to specific planters and their estates and subjected them to physical and financial penalties whenever any contractual conditions were broken.
What countries eat plantain?
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
In countries in Central America and the Caribbean, such as Cuba, Dominica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad and Tobago, Panama, Puerto Rico, Haiti and Jamaica, the plantain is either simply fried, boiled or made into plantain soup.
How many months does it take plantain to grow?
Plantain takes about 8 months to start to yield and about 3 months to mature. That’s to say, it takes about a year to have the first harvest from the planting date.
What climate do plantains grow in?
Plantains require warmth to grow, with growth stopping completely at 50 degrees Fahrenheit. A year-round mild climate is suitable for plantains, though they do best in tropical temperatures and may need protection from the cold.
Who brought Yam to Jamaica?
Portuguese slave ship
It is said that yams came to Jamaica from Africa in a Portuguese slave ship. There are up to 18 different varieties of yam are cultivated in Jamaica, and they all have a unique taste, flavour and texture.
Which is healthier banana or plantain?
Which is healthier? Neither the banana nor the plantain is superior to the other nutritionally, as they are both nutrient-rich foods. However, cooking methods can affect the nutritional content of these fruits. This has less to do with the fruit itself and more to do with what you’re adding to it.
What are Caribbean bananas called?
In some Caribbean islands, like Trinidad and Dominica, Green Bananas are called Fig. But in Jamaica we call them exactly what they are … Green Bananas. These are the same bananas that are eaten as a ripe fruit for breakfast or a snack.
What is the national drink of Jamaica?
Jamaican rum punch
Jamaican Rum
What is this? With roots in Jamaica’s colonial past, Jamaican rum has played an important part in the island nation’s economy. Slavery may have ended in 1834, but this national drink of Jamaica is still a regular feature in Jamaican rum punch, daiquiris, and other cocktails known around the world.
What kind of meat do Jamaicans eat?
Jamaicans eat most kinds of meat, with chicken, pork and beef being popular everyday meals. Goat, mutton and oxtail are served in most Jamaican restaurants or cooked in Jamaican homes. Seafood such as fish, lobster, and shrimp are cooked in a variety of ways. Many Jamaicans do not eat meat.