YeOldeStonecat
New member
One of my passions is authentic Jamaican Jerk style. Years ago, my aunt 'n uncle used to bring back some each time they went to Jamaica (several times a year...condo in Montego Bay). My aunt passed away a while ago, uncle doesn't go as much anymore, so I had to turn to finding the jars locally.
The availability of what I considered authentic and GOOD products available on the shelfs in the US is pretty sparse...I tried tons of them. Most I found too watered down, too weak, too..."blah".
I've found 2x brands which are good.
Walkers Wood, and Graces.
http://www.walkerswood.com/index.htm
Specifically..this particular product...as they have quite a few products..some are still pretty good, others too mild..but overall...good stuff. Just..the product below is my favorite..thickest and strongest in flavor.
http://www.walkerswood.com/product_detail.asp?pID=1
I used to find Walkers Wood on some store shelves....then it started disappearing and I had to order it online. But lately their good jerk paste is often "out of stock" online. One day while in the ethnic food isle of my local Stop 'n Shop, I found a new brand they started stocking...Grace.
http://www.gracefoods.com/site/
They have many products...including a good thick jerk paste that was, IMO, as good as Walkers Wood.
Hot
http://www.buygracefoods.com/site/product.cfm?id=jerk_hot_seasoning_bottle
and for those getting their feet wet...Mild
http://www.buygracefoods.com/site/product.cfm?id=jerk_seasoning_mild_bottle
Now, the CatMan is huge..huge into heat..but importantly, what I love about some of the good hot island seasonings..is the "layering" of flavors and heat. It's unlike traditional "hot sauces"...where the goal of the super hot red sauce is to blow your head off..and you don't taste much..your tongue is coated with the cap oil..and you can't taste a thing for an hour. With good authentic jerk seasonings...yeah some of them can be very hot..but there's a whole galaxy of different layers of flavors ringing your bell. Your taste buds are having an orgy.
This stuff is great on chicken, pork, even beef...I love it on flank strips or sirloin strips, even del monicos/rib eyes if used lightly.
Even though I love heat, I often cut this paste with a little olive oil, and various juices...sometimes just lime juice, or lime juice, or mango juice, and pineapple juice, or sometimes a splash of orange juice in there too. Mix-match to your hearts content. And fresh chopped cilantro.
Best results...rub 'n coat your meat well..and let it sit in the fridge overnight....or at least prep in the morning and have it sit in the fridge all day. Lets those flavors sink into the meat.
For those that may go right to the hot Grace one...they're not kidding when they say "hot". So a good teaspoon or tablespoon..cut with oil 'n a little juice, to coat a whole chickens worth of meat, will suffice.
Best if BBQ'd..for the authentic jerk pit taste. But you can enjoy it inside too. If you sear your meats inside on a pan before tossing in the oven...word of caution..if you've used a lot of the paste on the meat, the kitchen may fill with some eye watering sneeze inducing smoke.
The availability of what I considered authentic and GOOD products available on the shelfs in the US is pretty sparse...I tried tons of them. Most I found too watered down, too weak, too..."blah".
I've found 2x brands which are good.
Walkers Wood, and Graces.
http://www.walkerswood.com/index.htm
Specifically..this particular product...as they have quite a few products..some are still pretty good, others too mild..but overall...good stuff. Just..the product below is my favorite..thickest and strongest in flavor.
http://www.walkerswood.com/product_detail.asp?pID=1
I used to find Walkers Wood on some store shelves....then it started disappearing and I had to order it online. But lately their good jerk paste is often "out of stock" online. One day while in the ethnic food isle of my local Stop 'n Shop, I found a new brand they started stocking...Grace.
http://www.gracefoods.com/site/
They have many products...including a good thick jerk paste that was, IMO, as good as Walkers Wood.
Hot
http://www.buygracefoods.com/site/product.cfm?id=jerk_hot_seasoning_bottle
and for those getting their feet wet...Mild
http://www.buygracefoods.com/site/product.cfm?id=jerk_seasoning_mild_bottle
Now, the CatMan is huge..huge into heat..but importantly, what I love about some of the good hot island seasonings..is the "layering" of flavors and heat. It's unlike traditional "hot sauces"...where the goal of the super hot red sauce is to blow your head off..and you don't taste much..your tongue is coated with the cap oil..and you can't taste a thing for an hour. With good authentic jerk seasonings...yeah some of them can be very hot..but there's a whole galaxy of different layers of flavors ringing your bell. Your taste buds are having an orgy.
This stuff is great on chicken, pork, even beef...I love it on flank strips or sirloin strips, even del monicos/rib eyes if used lightly.
Even though I love heat, I often cut this paste with a little olive oil, and various juices...sometimes just lime juice, or lime juice, or mango juice, and pineapple juice, or sometimes a splash of orange juice in there too. Mix-match to your hearts content. And fresh chopped cilantro.
Best results...rub 'n coat your meat well..and let it sit in the fridge overnight....or at least prep in the morning and have it sit in the fridge all day. Lets those flavors sink into the meat.
For those that may go right to the hot Grace one...they're not kidding when they say "hot". So a good teaspoon or tablespoon..cut with oil 'n a little juice, to coat a whole chickens worth of meat, will suffice.
Best if BBQ'd..for the authentic jerk pit taste. But you can enjoy it inside too. If you sear your meats inside on a pan before tossing in the oven...word of caution..if you've used a lot of the paste on the meat, the kitchen may fill with some eye watering sneeze inducing smoke.