When an American hear a Jamaican say 'MAN' it sounds like 'MON' with an O. Likewise when the British heard the French and Spaniards saying the native word CHARQUI ;, especially with thier thick pirate slang, it sounded like they were. saying JERKY. Now in the British Diction which the Maroons and the rest of Jamaicans were taught , the word JERKY is an 'ajective' , the proper English Diction is the 'noun' JERK. Hence ,the word Jerk and Jerky evolved out of slang & misunderstanding the proper pronunciation of the noun CHARQUi .
You will find Jerk Chicken more today because its a quick easy way to make a profit. JERK PORK on the other hand takes great skill and availability of the woods that the meat is smoked over which is of abundance in Portland/BOSTON but not in the Cities or Cannot be found in the US or around the World.
KEYBEATZ Maybe the St. Catherine Maroons . I have been to Maroon Town Strong Hold in St. James and I cannot find Jerk anywhere there. They do own smoking pork in a pit in the ground like the Cubans do,but it taste different from the Boston Bay style which is done on Green Jerk woods and Charcoal Pimento wood.
Cool C What accurate sources can you find today about Arawak/Taino Indians? (They're dead or mixed into the Islands) Also Jamaican historians are not really sure so why make such a comment? Also smoking was a way to preserve the meat before refrigeration.
Thekeyman1 If you want to know your mothers History, first seek her Surname before she was married. Then you will find out about her, even if she was adopted. Likewise, first find out the history of the NAME Jerk.
The Buccaneers (pirates) would then split the stolen bounty with the British crown. That's why piracy lasted as long as it did because the British profited from the crime. When piracy was no longer profitable, the British sought to end it by appointing a pirate to reign in the terror of piracy. For his success he was awarded the governorship of Jamaica his name was Captain Henry Morgan (the pirate).
mixumup Sara won the Miss Jamaica competition some years ago becoming Jamaica's representative to the Miss Universe competition in that same year. She was one of the most popular contestants, placing among the final six and also capturing the Caribbean (Regional) Queen of Beauty crown in the competition
Ok so please tell everyone ,,,,Garfield Lawrence included ,,,,in the insightful commentary here [Thank you guys] What is the correct and best wood for cooking Jerk ,,IF Pimento wood is not correct or the BEST CHOICE I love Jerk and want to do it right out here in California Any help appreciated guys Thank You DD
David Doyle What i was saying is that Pimento is not straight, hence it is used in the fire as coal. On the grill you use Sweet wood,Rod wood and Wild Coffee which is not to ne confused with the real Coffee Tree. These woods you will not find on American nor Canada but the Pi
David Doyle In California i suggest you use a combination of Hickory, Apple, Barbecue wood and Pimento wood from Pimento wood. com ; IN THE FIRE .Try not to use too much coal.Coal produces "Dead Smoke." California do not have the green sweet wood nor green coffee sticks that we use on the grill ,so use the fire woods mentioned above .
The buccaneers did not create jerk. The video is correct. The Taino's (they spoke Arawak) and the Maroons are the creators of jerk. When the British first arrived, they documented the cooking methods they encountered as they sought to lay claim to the island from the Spaniards. The buccaneers came as private mercenaries under the British crown for hire afterwards and established Jamaica (Port Royal )as their camp to raid Spanish, Portuguese and French ships on behalf of England.
To browneyedgirl39 Please get a pair of glasses. To learn the histroy of Jerk . You must learn the History of each seasoning especially the Pimento or Pirate Language All Spice. Which is grown naturally in Jamaica long, long time before the EAST INDIAN & WEST INDIANS.
You cannot Jerk on Pimento Wood. Pimento Wood is not straight. If you dont believe me ask any jerkman to show you the pimento Wood on the wood grill layout.
@jasaxophonist actually Boston Jerk isnt what it used to be at all..the quality is sadly lacking...it really ought not to be the standard anymore...seriously
Wrong. Regardless of this Maroon's response it's inaccurate. Jerking goes back with the French Privateers and mixed lot of sea rovers who came to the what was then the Spanish American Empire: aimed at maurauding and plunder. Hispaniola and Tortuga had food source especially wild pigs. It's where the pirates and Privateers revitual their ships and dried the meats they got from that source. The method of drying meats in French is boucan, hence" Boucaniers and later anglicised to Buccaneer. Taino in Jamaica and neighboring islands did not eat meat. One of the reasons they hungerd was the gluttony of the Spanish who ate the water fowl and fish more than they did as small dieters. The original people brought by Portuguese slavers to replace the enslaved Arawaks on the suggestion of Las Casas were mixed East Africans and Barbers . Non meat eaters. Moors captured the Inquisition ended up among blacks that were brought to Jamaica before the triangular passage. Perhaps you should cut the flair out of this tale. It's a great effort to educate if that's your intention. The late Colonel Harris was a personal friend in my youth. Inaccurate events and history of his clan would be disturbing. Jamaicans long ago learn to, " tun hand me fashion," and out mixed society claim originality for too many things.
Fleurette M Van Gulden Thats deep. Best explanation so far. Jerk Pork should be Jamaica and the Caribbeans National Dish. So much deep History surrounds its evolution.
