History of Jerk

Jerk- the term is derived from the Spanish word Charqui of Jerk or dried meat. Its origins can be traced back to the Cormantee hunters of West Africa. Jerk Pork, for instance, Jamaica’s informal national dish first gained notoriety here as a hand-me-down from the Maroons – the slaves who escaped from the British during the invasion of 1655. With wild boar as their usual target, they would smoother the pork with a seasoning mix heavy in peppers, pimento and other spices, wrap the meat with leaves, and allow it to cook in its own juices over a lazy fire.

Like any other cuisine, recipes and techniques evolve, and so it’s told that the maroons eventually added the seasoning method used by the native Arawak Indians to their own. The meat is cooked by slowly and carefully smoking it over a smoldering rustic pit of pimento wood and coals. Originally the jerk meat was cut into strips and dried in the Sun for use at a later date. A small fire was lit under the meat so that the smoke would prevent flies from laying their eggs on the raw meat.

Jamaican jerk meats have become the defining national cuisine. It is the meal of choice for most Jamaicans and a “must have” for visitors to the island. Jerk has become an international craze, and has given rise to the preponderant use of the Jamaican jerk seasoning mix by many inside and outside of Jamaica. This method however, lacks the required hours of marinating and slow cooking that defines “the real thing”.

Authentic Jerk meals is prepared by a slow process of cooking that can only be described as:

• Food is seasoned with traditional Jamaican spices (all spice, thyme, scallion, other herbs) and peppers

• Food is placed on pimento or sweet wood and slow cooked over a pit of coal fire

• Food is covered with wood or pimento leaves to trap the smoke

Portland Jerk Seasoning is the one of a kind seasoning formulation that replicates the entire Jerking process

while providing that authentic original Jerk Flavour.

"Original Jerk Experience"

Date: July 1, 2012 {Sunday}

Time: 10am - 11pm

Venue: Folly Oval, Port Antonio

Admission:

 Pre-sold

   Adults:

   Children:

  At the gate

   Adults:

   Children:

Ticket Outlets:

• Hardware Store

• Gas Station

• Head Office

Welcome

Portland Jerk Festival

The Portland Jerk Festival is by far the most anticipated event to take place in Portland; it is among the most popular major annual calendar events to take place in Jamaica and it is not hard to explain why.

Jamaicans absolutely love food, music, entertainment and the arts. Jamaicans especially love ‘jerked’ cuisine, and good entertainment. Hosting a Jerked foods Festival in Portland, the birthplace of ‘Jerk’ and combining that food experience with popular music and entertainment all packaged and delivered right beside the sea, explains why this festival continues to grow in local and international popularity year after year.

The Jamaica Tourist Board has been committed to this event since its inception in 1999 and continues to support this festival through endorsements and sponsorships. The event is also featured on the JTB’s prestigious calendar of annual ‘must’ events.

The next Portland Jerk Festival is currently scheduled to be held on Sunday, July 1, 2012 at Folly Ruins, Port Antonio. It will be held under the theme of “Original Jerk Experience” and will feature over 25 authentic Jerk Chefs who will prepare a variety of jerked meats (pork, chicken, goat, lamb, fish, conch, lobster, etc…) and vegetables. Lots of entertainment is planned for the family all day.

The event started as a means of exposing the Boston ‘jerking’ community to the world and it has grown to become a real celebration of our unique and distinctively Jamaican cuisine; JERK. The festival now promises:

“…the  very  best  of  authentic  Jamaican  Jerk  and  cultural  foods,  an  ultimate  social  experience, Portland’s serenity and  sea  breeze  and  an  unforgettable and  spectacular produced cultural and popular entertainment showcase.”

The Portland Jerk Festival aims to strike the perfect balance between Jamaican Food experience and cultural Musical entertainment so that the event caters to a wide cross section of the Jamaican population. We do hope you bring your entire family for a belly full of food and spirit full of fun.

"Jerk" News

Participate 2012

Send Queries to:

PLEASE VISIT OUR PARTNERS

Food "Jerk" Menu

Jerk Pork ......................................$Crispy

Jerk Wild Pig ................................$Firm

Jerk Chicken ..................................$Woody

Jerk Fish ........................................$Spicy

Jerk Shrimp ....................................$Madd

Jerk Lobster ....................................$Madder

Jerk Goat/Mutton/Lamb ..........$Interesting

Jerk Deer ...........................$Very Interesting

Jerk Vegetables ....................$Healthy Spice

Jerk Yam ..................................$Very Fast

Jerk Breadfruit.........................$Spicante

Jerk Music ...............................$Sell Off

Jerk Dancing ........................$Reggae Spice

Jerk Breeze ...........................$ Sea nery

Jerk Jam ................$Portland Jerk Festival

Portland Jerk Festival and Boston Jerk Festival are trademarks owned and registered to the 20/20 Vision 21st Century Foundation.

About Us

20/20 Vision 21st Century

Foundation

The franchise began in 1999 when the community of Boston, the Jamaica Tourist Board and the Member of Parliament (Dr. Donlad Rhodd) came together to promote Boston Jerk culture to the world. The 'Boston Jerk Festival' was the result of this effort. The event was a huge success with many persons coming from all over Jamaica to enjoy orignial Jerk foods and good entertainment. The festival eventually outgrew the venue and moved to the Folly Ruins site and have found a home there. 

Over the past 10 years, the foundation throug its partners and investors have invested significanlty in the product to bring it to what it is today. Currrently the festival is operated as a franchise.

This year (2012) the event is being produced by Bell & Bell under license from the Foundation.

Officers of the 20/20 Vision 21st Century Foundation:

Chairman - Kasey Bourne

Vice Chairman - Dr. Donald Rhodd

Secretary - Norma Willams

Treasurer - Frank Lawrence

Director - Linnette Patterson

Welcome

History of Jerk

2012 Event Details

Portland Jerk Festival

The Portland Jerk Festival is by far the most anticipated event to take place in Portland; it is among the most popular major annual calendar events to take place in Jamaica and it is not hard to explain why...

Jerk- the term is derived from the Spanish word Charqui of Jerk or dried meat. Its origins can be traced back to the...

The 2012 event will be held under the theme of "Original Jerk Experience". Over 25 "Authentic Jerk Chefs will provide the 'real' Boston Jerk experience for our loyal patrons. Celebrity chefs from ...