Jamaican Cookery

The new year brings a sigh of relief for Jamaican households. After the record-breaking "crisis prices" of late 2025 , we are finally seeing a downward trend in the cost of essential vegetables. While the political climate in Jamaica remains divided and some may hesitate to acknowledge any "good news, the reality at the market stalls is clear: your dollar is stretching further this week than it did last month.  Top Price Drops: Vegetables & Greens The most dramatic changes are seen in leafy greens and salad favorites. These prices have tumbled from the highs seen during the October–December 2025 period. Lettuce: Now $200/lb (Massive drop from $1,500–$2,000/lb ). Sweet Pepper : Steadying at $800/lb (Coming down from $1,200–$2,000/lb ). Tomato: Now $300/lb (Was $800–$1,500/lb ). Cucumber: Now $100/lb (Was $400/lb ). Cabbage: Now $300/lb (Was $400–$1,000/lb ). Carrot & Beetroot: Both holding at $300/lb (Down from $700–$800/lb ).  The "Melissa" ...

Jamaican chicken soup is one of those meals that fill the belly and the soul. This is a simple Jamaican chicken soup using curry pumpkin , which is a variety of pumpkin in Jamaica, yellow yam (also called soup yam or Negro yam ), dasheen to thicken the soup, and coco ( cocoyam , also called taro ), which is also used to thicken soup. Irish potatoes and carrots are added, along with cho-cho ( chayote , also called Christophine ) and turnip , which can also go in the soup. Sweet corn on the cob is in my soup, although that’s not traditional — it’s preference. I used two soup mixes : Maggi Pumpkin Soup Mix and Grace Cock Soup Mix . I sieved them to remove the noodles, leaving what we call the flavour . Now, while the internet says Saturday is traditional soup day in Jamaica , unless I grew up in another Jamaica in the Caribbean, Friday was the original soup day . Because of that, I used to hate Fridays and Saturdays as a child, I didn’t like soup. And it wasn’t just any soup on ...

Hurricane Melissa Aftermath: Who's Really Price Gouging on Jamaican Hot Pepper? Price gouging in Jamaican markets has become an all-too-familiar problem. For those of us who rely on the markets for basic food items, it's hard to ignore how local Black sellers are pricing their products unfairly. In contrast, some Chinese-owned supermarkets are offering the same items for much less. So, why is this happening, and what does it mean for us as consumers? The Reality of Price Gouging in the Market Greed is one of the main reasons behind this issue. It’s clear that many local sellers are more interested in making a quick profit than in supporting their own communities. The prices are inflated to an unreasonable degree, and it feels like those who are supposed to have our backs are only looking out for themselves. Take something as simple as  hot peppers,  a basic ingredient in many Jamaican dishes. Black market sellers charge upwards of   $1000 per dozen , but you can walk in...

  The Growing Struggle with Sweet Pepper Prices Sweet pepper also known as bell pepper  may not be an essential in every Jamaican kitchen, but it certainly finds its way into many dishes we love. Whether it’s in stew chicken , stew pork , fry-up saltfish , or steam cabbage , sweet pepper adds that vibrant flavor and color that many of us crave. But these days, walking into a market and seeing the price of sweet pepper can leave you shocked. At $1000 per pound , it's become one of the more expensive items on the grocery list, and the situation has worsened because sweet pepper is now scarce . Even if you can afford to buy it, vendors are prioritizing their loyal customers , making it a challenge to get your hands on any at all. It’s a far cry from the days when sweet pepper was abundant and affordable . In this post, I’ll share my thoughts on why sweet pepper has become such a luxury item , and how the recent Hurricane Melissa has worsened the situation. The Price Surge: A ...