Jamaican Stinking Toe Fruit (West Indian Locust): Childhood Memories

Two stinking toe fruits on a brown chopping board, one cracked open showing the powdery pulp inside
Stinking toe fruit cracked open to reveal the powdery pulp Jamaican children used to eat

Stinking toe is a fruit in Jamaica, known worldwide as West Indian locust. The Jamaican stinking toe fruit is originally native to Central and South America, especially Brazil and the Amazon basin. It spread throughout the Caribbean, including Jamaica, where it became part of local food culture.

As children, we used a rock stone (a small rock) to crack open the pod, then stopped our breath to eat the sweet, powdery pulp inside. The pulp smells really awful like a dirty sock hence the name stinking toe. Before eating it, we would always make sure to have a cup of water nearby because it was said if it choked us while eating, we would have to eat hog feces in order not to die. Of course, as children, we believed that.

Children nowadays do not eat stinking toe. It is mostly now pushed as a healthy fruit, said to be rich in iron, vitamin A, antibacterial and antifungal properties, and fibre. It is now used to put in punches and things like that. However, growing up in the 90s, we didn’t hear none of that. Adults didn’t even eat the fruit, it was only children.

For us, stinking toe wasn’t about health benefits or nutrients. It was just something we ate, held our breath for, and laughed about after. A true piece of Jamaican childhood.

Frequently Asked Questions About Stinking Toe

What is stinking toe good for?

Online, stinking toe is often pushed as a healthy fruit said to be rich in iron, vitamin A, fibre, and even antibacterial or antifungal properties. In Jamaica, people do not eat or drink stinking toe punches for any health condition. Despite the narrative online, that was never a thing. Growing up, nobody was eating stinking toe to cure anything. Adults didn’t even eat it; it was only children.

What is another name for stinking toe?

Another name for stinking toe is West Indian locust.

What is the stinking toe fruit in Jamaica?

In Jamaica, stinking toe is a fruit with a powdery pulp and a strong, stinking scent. The smell is unpleasant, but the pulp is sweet. As children, we cracked the pod open with a rock stone, held our breath, and ate it quickly.

Where does stinking toe fruit grow in Jamaica?

Stinking toe fruit grows in several parts of Jamaica, but Clarendon parish has an abundance of stinking toe trees.

Why don’t children eat stinking toe anymore?

Children nowadays do not eat stinking toe like before. Growing up in the 90s, it was something children ate for fun, not for health reasons. Today, it is mostly adults talking about it online as a “healthy fruit,” while the real childhood experience has faded.


 

Comments

Post a Comment

Be respectful

Popular posts from this blog

My Jamaican-Style Eggnog with Brandy and White Rum

Image
  While eggnog isn’t a Christmas tradition in Jamaica, this hot eggnog recipe is perfect for December holiday drinks. Smooth, lightly spiced, and gently balanced with a splash of white rum or brandy, it’s rich, comforting, and easy to make at home. Whether you’re serving it for a cozy night in or as part of your holiday celebrations, this recipe hits all the right notes, creamy, flavourful, and satisfying. Jump to Recipe Recipe Card: Hot Eggnog Preparation Details Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10–15 minutes Total Time: 20–25 minutes Servings: 4 Ingredients 4 cups whole milk 1 cup heavy cream 1/2 cup granulated sugar 6 large egg yolks (common fowl preferred for richer colour) 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon 1–2 tablespoons white rum or brandy (optional) Instructions In a medium saucepan, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, and sugar until the sugar is dissolve...
Read more

How to Cook Authentic Jamaican Hard Food (Boiled Dumplings, Banana & plantain)

Image
 In Jamaica, no breakfast or dinner is complete without "Hard Food." This classic meal usually consists of a mix of Yellow Yam, Green Banana, and Boiled Dumplings. But, as many of us know, the situation at the market has drastically changed since the passing of Hurricane Melissa on October 28, 2025. Current Market Situation : Ground provisions have become very expensive. Yellow yam is now $500 per pound and white yam is $400 per pound. Even worse, many of these yams are hollow and filled with black spots, making them unappealing to buy. Sweet potatoes are also priced at $300 per pound, but most are rotten and full of worms. Because of this, I’ve turned to green bananas and plantains as my go-to substitute for yam in this recipe. Safety Considerations : It’s also essential to think about safety. Since the produce was likely covered in floodwater, I’m taking extra precautions when preparing these ingredients. This is a method I’ve developed for cooking safe, delicious hard f...
Read more

Jamaican Original Rice and Peas Without Coconut Milk

Image
  Jamaican Traditional Rice and Peas Without Coconut Milk Rice and peas was traditionally eaten only on Sundays and Wednesdays in Jamaica. Nowadays, it is eaten any day of the week. Red kidney beans are called peas in Jamaica. Do we call all beans peas? No, only red kidney beans. A lot of people do not know that coconut milk is not used in the original rice and peas recipe. Traditionally, it was a margarine that we call pound butter put into rice and peas. The idea of using coconut milk comes from the Rastafarian community they have a love affair with coconuts and put the milk into almost everything they cook. Eventually, everyone started to put coconut milk into rice and peas and the original recipe was forgotten. A lot of people say red kidney beans should be soaked before cooking else it will cause gas and poison. I am here to tell you that’s not Jamaican culture. Soaking red peas is a preference that doesn't have anything to do with gas or poison. I personally have ...
Read more