Caribbean Food and Drink

a box a dead

A fast food meal of fried chicken and french fries.

abiu

Pouteria caimito, a tropical tree, and its fruit originally from South America. It will grow an average of 33 feet (10 m) high, and can grow as high a

abraham cassava

A type of bitter cassava

accra

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

achar

A condiment made from fruit (often mango), vinegar, peppers, salt and mustard oil

acid

Any hard liquor or alcoholic drink

ackee

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 f

ackee and saltfish

A traditional food that is the national dish of Jamaica. It is typically prepared as a sautee of boiled ackee, saltfish, peppers, onions and other spi

afu

Yams are edible tubers that develop from certain plant species in the Dioscorea family, though it should be noted that some species within this genus

agidi

A meal of cornmeal mush cooked in leaves.

agouti

Small rodents related to guinea pigs.

akara

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

alligator pear

Avocado. Edible pear shaped or round fruit with an egg shaped seed. The flesh is green on the outside and turns yellow closer to the seed.

almond

The tree and fruit of Terminalia catappa. It is a large tree (up to 115ft in height), often grown for ornamental purposes and the shade provided by it

aloo

Potato

aloo pie

A pastry filled with seasoned mashed potatoes and then fried. The dough consists of flour, water, salt, baking powder and if necessary some saffron fo

amandes

The tree and fruit of Terminalia catappa. It is a large tree (up to 115ft in height), often grown for ornamental purposes and the shade provided by it

anady

The fruit and plant of Bixa orellana, commonly known as anatto. It is important for its seeds which are used to produce spices, and bright red/orange

ananas

Pineapple - a tropical plant with edible multiple fruit consisting of coalesced berries, named for resemblance to the pine cone.

anar

Pomegranate. Botanical name Punica granatum, is a fruit-bearing deciduous shrub or small tree growing between 5 and 8 m (16 and 26 ft) tall

anatto

The fruit and plant of Bixa orellana, commonly known as anatto. It is important for its seeds which are used to produce spices, and bright red/orange

anchar

A condiment made from fruit (often mango), vinegar, peppers, salt and mustard oil

anisette

An alcoholic beverage made by soaking anise leaves in rum and adding sugar for sweetening.

anon

An edible round, ovoid, or cone shaped fruit around 6-10 cm in diameter, with a lumpy skin. The skin colour changes from bright green to a pale whitis

apple

Syzygium malaccense is a species of flowering tree native to tropical parts of Asia; It has been introduced throughout the Caribbean. The trees produ

apple banana

A banana variety known for small sweet fruit.

apra

A round fruit about the size of a tennis ball. It has a glossy leathery skin that is either green, purple, or some combination of the two colours. Ins

apricot

Round fruit between 5 and 9 inches in diameter. The fruit has rough brown skin and contains a single large seed. The flesh of unripe fruit is hard and

aprin

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 d

areba

A round flat bread made from grated cassava which has been repeatedly pressed to remove the juice. For meal preparation, slices are typically soaked i

arnold

Pork - the flesh of swine.

asham

A desert snack made by shelling dry corn, parching it in a hot pot and then pounding it in a wooden mortar and sifting it until it is similar to sand.

avogado

Avocado. Edible pear shaped or round fruit with an egg shaped seed. The flesh is green on the outside and turns yellow closer to the seed.

ayaca

A dish consisting of mixed meat stewed with capers, olives, raisins and prunes, wrapped in cornmeal, then wrapped in banana or plantain leaves and boi

babash

An extremely potent overproof rum with a fearsome reputation. It is sold under-the-counter (illegally) and usually available during sugar harvest time

baccalow

Fish dried and salted for preservation. The fish is usually the Atlantic or Pacific cod, however, pollock and haddock are sometimes used. Preparation

bag juice

Commercially produced drinks or juice packaged in plastic bags.

baggy

A homemade frozen pop popular with children. It is made by pouring mixed drinks into small transparent plastic bags, tying the bags to seal them, and

bake

A fried bread typically made from baking powder leavened dough.

bakes

A fried bread typically made from baking powder leavened dough.

balanjay

Eggplant. A species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit.

balay

To roll dough into a shape with a rolling pin

bald benny

A species of food fish

balloon gut

Any of several types of spiny blowfish or pufferfish that inflate and expand their bodies when threatened.

bammy

A round flat bread made from grated cassava which has been repeatedly pressed to remove the juice. For meal preparation, slices are typically soaked i

banana fig

A dried banana

banana fritters

A fried meal item made from a batter consisting primarily of ripe bananas (usually overripe) and flour.

banane pese

A dish of twice fried green plantain. Slices or chunks of plantain are slow fried, then pressed flat and fried again. The slices are optionally dipped

bandanya

Mexican Coriander. Eryngium foetidum is a tropical perennial and annual herb in the family Apiaceae used for seasoning and marinating food.

banga

Is a yellowish-green drupe 2.5-5 cm in diameter, containing a single, dark brown, nut-like seed 2.5-5 cm diameter, which is very tough to break. The i

banga mary

A popular food fish

bannan

Plantains

bara

The bread is a quick bread made of flour, baking powder, salt and ground turmeric, which gives the bread its yellow color. It is flattened to a thin r

barbadine

The Giant Granadilla, it is the largest of the passionfruits, plants of the genus Passiflora. It is a perennial native of Tropical America, having smo

barefoot rice

Plain white rice.

barra

Barracuda. A ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance

barry

Barracuda. A ray-finned fish known for its large size and fearsome appearance

belna

Rolling pin - a cylindrical wooden cooking instrument used to flatten and shape dough.

benne balls

A brittle candy made from sugar and sesame seeds.

benny cake

A brittle candy made from sugar and sesame seeds.

benye

A yeast risen, fried, banana fritter often served as a breakfast item.

beregene

Eggplant. A species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit.

berenjena

Eggplant. A species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit.

bhagi

Aramanth - an edible green leafy vegetable resembling spinach. It is typically prepared by steaming, often with saltfish

bhaigan

Eggplant. A species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit.

bhandhania

Mexican Coriander. Eryngium foetidum is a tropical perennial and annual herb in the family Apiaceae used for seasoning and marinating food.

biandas

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

bickle

Food.

big john

A bitter white cassava used for making bread.

big sour

Seville orange; A thick skinned sour orange used for making beverages and marmalade.

bilimbi

The fruit and tree of Averrhoa bilimbi. A relative of the carambola or star fruit, the tree produces an edible, green, five pomed, cucumber like fruit

bime

Garifuna sweet sticky rice

bird pepper

A small, but hot chili pepper used for cooking. The peppers range in colour from green to red. The pepper is native to Barbados where it grows wild.

bitter george

Bitter cassava used to make bread after the poisonous juices have been squeezed out.

bitter orange

Seville orange; A thick skinned sour orange used for making beverages and marmalade.

black cake

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

black mango

A small, highly desired mango cultivar. The fruit is mostly green even when ripe - with some black spots. Occasionally some ripe fruit may have blushe

black pudding

Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled.

blackie

A small, highly desired mango cultivar. The fruit is mostly green even when ripe - with some black spots. Occasionally some ripe fruit may have blushe

bladdaw

Large, round flat, dumplings

blim blim

The fruit and tree of Averrhoa bilimbi. A relative of the carambola or star fruit, the tree produces an edible, green, five pomed, cucumber like fruit

blood puddin

Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled.

blue draws

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 spic

blue food

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

bluggoe

A type of plaintain.

bodi

Green Beans, also known as String Beans, are the unripe fruits of any kind of bean, especially the common bean.

boeah nona

An edible round, ovoid, or cone shaped fruit around 6-10 cm in diameter, with a lumpy skin. The skin colour changes from bright green to a pale whitis

boil fish

A dish of whitefish boiled with potatoes and spices.

bois pain

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 gre

bombay

A popular mango cultivar valued for pleasant taste.

bora

Green Beans, also known as String Beans, are the unripe fruits of any kind of bean, especially the common bean.

boudin

Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled.

boudin creole

Sausage made by cooking blood with a filler until it is thick enough to congeal when cooled.

boulanger

Eggplant. A species of nightshade grown for its edible fruit.

box lunch

A fast food meal of fried chicken and french fries.

boxfood

A fast food meal of fried chicken and french fries.

boyo

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 spic

breadfruit

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 gre

breadnut

Seeded breadfruit

breshe

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 gre