A fried batter made from a mix of flour, saltfish, onions, peppers and other spices

Blighia sapida; A fruit of the soapberry family native to West Africa that was introduced to the Caribbean. It is the national fruit of Jamaica, and features prominently in Jamaican cuisine where it is an ingredient in the the national dish 'ackee and saltfish'. The fruit changes in colour from yellowish-green to a reddish orange as it matures. When ripe, the pods open to reveal two to three fleshy white or cream coloured arils. The arils are the only edible part of the fruit. The fruit must be allowed to open fully before harvesting as unripe and unopened fruit is poisonous and may cause ackee poisoning or Jamaican Vomiting Sickness (toxic hypoglycemic syndrome).

Small rodents related to guinea pigs.

Rich dark cakes popular around Christmas. A primary ingredients is dried fruit that has been steeped or soaked in rum or wine for long periods of time (sometimes years). The dried fruit is usually some combination of raisins, prunes, cherries, and candied fruit peel. The cakes get their dark colour from browning or burnt sugar.

Tree and fruit native to the Pacific Islands and Malaysia that was brought to the West Indies in the 18th century. The fruit is large with a rough green skin with small hexagonal markings. Some varieties have a spiky exterior. The flesh is white, cream coloured or yellow and has a high starch content. It is eaten boiled, roasted, or fried as a staple food.

Tree and fruit native to the Pacific Islands and Malaysia that was brought to the West Indies in the 18th century. The fruit is large with a rough green skin with small hexagonal markings. Some varieties have a spiky exterior. The flesh is white, cream coloured or yellow and has a high starch content. It is eaten boiled, roasted, or fried as a staple food.

Seeded breadfruit

A thick spicy soup-like dish made with a green leafy vegetable as a main ingredient. The vegetable is usually aramanth or dasheen leaves.

Ovoid green fruit that grows in bunches on trees up to 30m high. The fruit typically ripen during the summer. The fruit is related to the lychee and have tight, thin but rigid skins. Inside the skin is the tart, tangy, or sweet pulp of the fruit covering a large seed. The pulp is usually cream or orange coloured.

A beverage made from the ground seeds of the cocoa plant. It is usually made hot, and heavily spiced with nutmeg, vanilla and cinnamon.

A breakfast porridge made with cornmeal as a primary ingredient. It may also include milk, coconut milk, sugar, and spices like nutmeg, cinnamon and vanilla.

The edible leaves of the taro plant.

Meat - animal flesh

A roti with a stuffing of ground yellow split peas (dhal), cumin (geera), garlic and pepper. The split peas are boiled until they are tender crisp and then ground in a mill. The cumin is toasted until black and also ground. The stuffing is pushed into the roti dough, and sealed. When rolled flat, the filling is distributed within the roti. It is cooked on the tawah and rubbed with oil for ease of cooking.

Carambola; A fruit with a star shaped cross section. As it ripens it turns from green to yellow. The fruit has a tart taste and is a good source of vitamin C.

Ambarella. An edible fruit growing on large trees up to 30m. The fruits have thick, sometimes leathery skin and dendritic (fibrous or hairy) seeds. While unripe, the flesh is crisp and firm with a tart acidic taste. As it ripens, it turns yellow, becomes soft and develops a sweet taste and fragrant smell. Both ripe and unripe fruits can be eaten raw. It is also often prepared by juicing, stewing with ginger and sugar, pickling with peppers and spices, or made into chow.

Any starchy agricultural product used as food. Examples include, but are not limited to, yams, potatoes, bananas, cassava, pumpkins, and breadfruit.

Ziziphus Mauritania; A small round berry about 3/4 inches in diameter. The fruit is green and turns yellow as it ripens. Ripe fruit may occasionally develop a rust brown colour and a cracked texture. The unripe fruit is firm and slightly acidic, and grows softer and mushier when it ripens. The berries have a single hard seed.

Passion fruit

Otaheite apple; Pear shaped fruit with red skin and white flesh. Typically, they contain a single large seed. However, they may occasionally be seedless. The fruit is sweet and is usually eaten raw or used to make drinks.

Opossum

The dried bark of the Colubrina reclinata tree.

A dessert item similar to bread pudding that is made from any combination of cassava, coco, sweet potato, or cornmeal along with flour, sugar and spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. The mixture is traditionally wrapped in leaves (banana or taro) or cloth and then boiled until cooked.

Otaheite apple; Pear shaped fruit with red skin and white flesh. Typically, they contain a single large seed. However, they may occasionally be seedless. The fruit is sweet and is usually eaten raw or used to make drinks.

Ambarella. An edible fruit growing on large trees up to 30m. The fruits have thick, sometimes leathery skin and dendritic (fibrous or hairy) seeds. While unripe, the flesh is crisp and firm with a tart acidic taste. As it ripens, it turns yellow, becomes soft and develops a sweet taste and fragrant smell. Both ripe and unripe fruits can be eaten raw. It is also often prepared by juicing, stewing with ginger and sugar, pickling with peppers and spices, or made into chow.

A dish made from rice and peas or beans. Red kidney beans and gungo are commonly used. The dish is typically prepared with coconut milk and lots of seasoning.

The tree and fruit of Phyllanthus acidus. The intermediate sized tree produces small, flattened, multi-lobed, berries with a high acid content. The tart yellow berries are edible raw, but most often stewed with sugar, ginger and other spices.

The edible fruit of Annona muricata, a broadleaf, flowering, evergreen tree native to Mexico, Cuba, Central America, the Caribbean and northern South America. The flesh of the fruit consists of an edible, white pulp, some fiber, and a core of indigestible, black seeds. The sweet pulp is used to make juice, as well as candies, sorbets, and ice cream flavorings.

A ritually prepared meal of rice intended to trap (tie) a man in a romantic relationship. Women prepare the meal by cooking rice and squatting over the steaming pot allowing the mix of condensation and bodily juices to "sweat" into the rice.

Tamarind