CULTURAL PRACTICES

CULTURAL PRACTICES

AND ITS RELATION TO FOOD CHOICES, PREFERENCES AND HABITS IN JAMAICA AND CUBA

BY: JOSIAH BENT

What the term culture meansCulture speaks to ones practiced way of life. For example, having carnival on an annual basis is a popular culture in Trinidad and Tobago.

CONTD Cultural practices impacts consumption of certain foods and norms of preparation, and in certain cases can lead to restrictions such as exclusion of meat and milk from the diet. Evidence has shown that traditions, beliefs and values are among the main factors influencing food choices, preference and habits

JAMIACAN TRADITIONSTraditions are the ways of ancestors who passed various customs and practices down the generational linage. A well-known tradition in Jamaica is the consumption of what many worldwide refer to as the poison fruit, ackee. This tradition is currently practiced across the island as a meal to be eaten at any time of day; breakfast, lunch or dinner. When combined with cod fish, known in Jamaica as salt-fish, the meal becomes the national dish of the country.

JAMIACAN TRADITIONS CONTD Another tradition practiced in Jamaica is the holding of family gatherings around Christmas seasons. When these gatherings are held, meat of many kinds are chosen to be cooked and eaten, such as pork, beef, lamb, mutton etc. This indeed also impacts food choice, habit and preferences.

CUBAN TRADITIONSHistorically speaking, the Spaniards and Black Africans who both combined gave arise to what is known today as the Cuban tradition. Black Africans when in slavery, they had no opportunities in consuming quality and sufficient food whilst the Spaniards had every chances there were.

CUBAN TRADITIONS CONTDTherefore currently in Cuba black beans in which were given to slaves as a sense of racism and pork in which were eaten by white Spaniards are two main dishes. Both meals are often eaten among the Cuban society.

JAMIACAN BELIEFSJamaicans, from previous generations carry along lots of beliefs in which sometimes impacts the believers food choice. An example is seventh day Adventists who are of the belief that neither the scavengers of the land nor sea should be consumed hence they would choose, prefer and break into the habit of not consuming pork, oysters, crab etc.

JAMIACAN BELIEFS CONTD Another is the continuous and regular consumptions of garlic enriched foods. This is so as a result of the belief that garlic is good for the guarding against duppies (ghost or evil spirits).

CUBAN BELIEFSCubans believe highly in marriages hence they are very fond on weddings. Over the pass years the Cubans have adapted to the European style weddings with expensive items; jewelleries, decorations, lots of foods etc. This adaptation of culture from elsewhere has impacted the food preference and choice of food. For example, in several restaurants across the island of Cuba, steak, lamb, and salmon are only the few expensive food items that are served to the Cubans.

JAMAICAN VALUESValues are described as worth placed upon people or things. In Jamaica, there are many who value their health a lot hence paying keen attention to each meal eaten of the day. For example an individual like such wouldnt be caught eating lots of fast foods.

JAMAICAN VALUES CONTDIn addition, there are other persons who value their status and reputation in society. Therefore, foods listed as lower class foods wouldnt be a choice of meal for such an individual. For example, canned mackerel is considered as a lower class meal thus wouldnt be eaten by status valued persons.

CUBAN VALUESCubans are very enjoyable sets of people who acknowledge a need of constant enjoyment in their lives. The down fall however is with this constant need for enjoyment, any type of food is eaten at any point in time therefore they dont put value on food health. For example, a typical Cuban would include pork in his/her diet for all meals of the day; breakfast, lunch, dinner.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENTSUSED IN THE PREPARATION OF INDIGENOUS JAMAICAN AND CUBAN DISHES

JAMAICA

WHAT THE TERM INDIGENOUS FOOD MEANSIndigenous dishes refers to the food used in preparing the meal that are originated or occurring naturally in a particular place. For example, ackee, bread fruit, cassava, coconut and lemons, rice, sugar cane, corn, black beans are all food items considered indigenous to both Jamaica and Cuba respectively.

CONTDAlthough there are modern pieces of equipment used in food preparation in kitchens island wide, there are long-established processes and tools that are indigenous and traditional, which have been used in creating delicious meals for generations. These are-

BARBACOA THE BARBECUEThe original Jamaican barbecue is a Taino invention. The now widely used word barbecue is derived from the French word, babrecot. The barbacoa was made of heated pimento wood on a raised platform and was used to jerk wild pigs.

BARBACOA THE BARBECUE

COAL STOVE The coal stove is a small charcoal fuelled cooker with a basin-like top covered by a flat metal grillattached to a long hollowed cylindrical foot. Similarto a single cooktop, the coal stove was used tocook a wide range of foods. Meats could be placeddirectly on the grill of the coal stove or on sticks laidacross the top of the stove to be grilled or smoked.

COAL STOVE

DUTCH POT/DUTCHIE The Dutchie, short for Dutch Pot, is made of heavy cast iron which has handles on both sides and a cover. Many Jamaicans know this jingle, Hell a top, hell a bottom, hallelujah inna di middle, which described the baking method for certain puddings in the Dutch Pot.

DUTCH POT/DUTCHIEF

WOODEN SPOON OR TURN STICKThe wooden spoon or turn stick is one of the most popular and oldest cooking utensils. The spoons were easy to carve from pieces of wood. They are flat spoons or had a small dip in the middle, concave and oval-shaped with a long handle. The utensil was used for mixing ingredients when cooking or baking.

WOODEN SPOON OR TURN STICKA

MORTAR AND PESTLEMortar and pestle are a set of utensils, of a wooden bowl shaped vessel (the mortar) which holds ingredients that are crushed by the club-like stick (the pestle). The pair was once used for pounding foods such as corn, cocoa for chocolate, coffee, cassava and yam.

MORTAR AND PESTLEAa

TAVA GRIDDLEThe tava (pronounced tawah) is a large, flat heavy griddle made from cast iron. This tool of Indian origin was used to cook a variety of flat breads. In Jamaica, the tava is used to make the popular unleavened flat bread, roti. This pot is still popular in many Indian homes in the island.

TAVA GRIDDLE

CUBA

IRON POTA heavy castiron potis also called a caldero or caldron. This main pot is similar to the Dutch Oven. The iron pot is used to cook meat, stews, soups and rice dishes such as pelau and mixed rice.

IRON POT

PASTELLE PRESS Pastelle presses are available in many sizes and are made of wood, plastic. They are mainly used to make the dishes from our Spanish influence like pastelles, empanadas, arepas, etc.

PASTELLE PRESS

SWIZZLE STICKA Swizzle stick (no, not the one that is used to mix cocktail drinks, etc.) is used for mixing powdered milk or any other powder and water mixture

SWIZZLE STICK

KALCHULKalchul (a ladle) is usually made of stainless steel or other metal and used mainly when paella and choka.

KALCHUL

DABLADabla is used for making paratha roti

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