| The earliest inhabitants of the Caribbean islands were | | | | hunters would often leave their homes to go on long |
| the three Indian tribes of Arawak, Carib, and Taino. | | | | hunts and take with them pork cooked in a very |
| Their daily food comprised of vegetables and fruits. | | | | spicy recipe over hot coals. |
| It was the Taino tribe that first started cooking | | | | In the post-slavery era, Indian cooking culture was |
| meat and fish, using large clay vessels for this | | | | introduced in Caribbean food recipes and still remains |
| purpose. | | | | an active part of the Caribbean cuisine. Most of the |
| The Arawaks took a different way and used thin | | | | curried meats and curry powder recipes that are |
| strips of green wood to cook meat more slowly and | | | | found today are directly derived from original Indian |
| allowing it to absorb the flavor of the wood. The | | | | cuisine. |
| wooden grate they used was called barbacoa and | | | | Rice was introduced to the Caribbean by the Chinese |
| now you know where the term barbeque comes | | | | and is now a staple. The Chinese also unleashed |
| from. | | | | mustard on the islanders while the Portuguese sailors |
| Not to be left behind, the Carib tribe made their fish | | | | did the codfish. Most of the fruit trees that are |
| and meat recipes really spicy by adding pepper | | | | familiar to the visitors to the island were actually |
| sauces, lime, and lemons. In fact, the Caribs are | | | | brought here by the Spain and include orange, ginger, |
| credited with having cooked the first pepper pot | | | | lime, figs, plantains, sugar cane, tamarinds, grapes, |
| stew. | | | | and coconuts. America brought with it the various |
| The last of the above three has had a tremendous | | | | beans, squash, corn, tomatoes, potatoes, and chili |
| impact on Caribbean food, which should not be | | | | pepper to the island. In fact, some of these food |
| surprising because the Caribbean Sea was named | | | | spread to the rest of world through the Caribbean, |
| after this tribe. In the present day, Caribbean food is | | | | before which, they were unknown. |
| still a representative of the food that was originally | | | | This are but some of the few reasons why |
| eaten by the early inhabitants and includes okra, fish | | | | Caribbean food is so unique and creative. Flavors |
| cakes, callaloo, ackee, salt fish, pudding, souse, | | | | from all over the world have found a home in |
| cassava, yams, sweet potatoes, plantains, and | | | | Caribbean food through countless generations and |
| mangoes. The concept of "jerk" cooking has also | | | | the flow of history. |
| originated in the Caribbean when early African | | | | |