This is an island in the Caribbean just south of Cuba. It is inhabited primarily by ex-slaves who won their freedom from Britain. Also many people descended from Indians live there, because of the presence of the British.

Jamaica is know for its reggae and dancehall music. Some of the people's religion there is Rastafarianism, which places Selassie I of Ethiopia as it's Messiah.

This is a lovely place to see, but there is a feeling in the air that is not conducive to peace and tranquility. You feel as if there could be a revolution at any minute. There are armed soldiers patrolling the countryside, and some of the locals do not like the white tourist even one little bit.

Perhaps this is what comes from the inhalation of too much ganja? I know that Jamaican weed is some of the strongest and most lethargic dope I've ever smoked. And the heat, the bone-chilling poverty, the lack of proper hair care products . . . on and on.

It adds up to this: You try to bargain for an item at the local markets, and you might leave with a nasty knife wound. There's better places to spend your vacation, mon.

Jamaica is also a traditional Mexican drink. It is pronounced Hah-my-ka. It's made from hibiscus flowers. The taste is rather hard to describe, but it's a bit like watered down fruit punch. It goes along very well with Mexican and Caribbean foods.

Jamaica Flower Water

Ingredients:

2 quarts water
3/4 cup dried Jamaica/hibiscus flowers (these can be found at most Latin markets)
1/2 cup granulated sugar or honey
Orange slices and fresh hibiscus for garnish (optional)

Method:

Bring the water to a boil. Add the flowers and return to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook 10 minutes. Stir in the sugar or honey, strain into a pitcher and refrigerate. Serve cold over ice with slices of orange as garnish, or if served in a punch-bowl, add several (rinsed) hibiscus flowers to float in the punch. If you find this too-lacking in taste, you can augment it with two cups of orange juice stirred in after it's cool.

Warning! This stuff stains, badly! Hibiscus flowers are also used to make red dye, so be very careful. Expect to have red hands for the remainder of the day you make this.

Ja*mai"ca (?), n.

One of the West India is islands.

Jamaica ginger, a variety of ginger, called also white ginger, prepared in Jamaica from the best roots, which are deprived of their epidermis and dried separately. -- Jamaica pepper, allspice. -- Jamaica rose Bot., a West Indian melastomaceous shrub (Blakea trinervis), with showy pink flowers.

 

© Webster 1913.