For centuries, indigenous people, such as the Caribs, Ciboney, and the Arawaks lived in the Caribbean., Wars erupted among the major European colonial powers, over the Caribbean, and sadly, at this same time, indigenous populations were being wiped out. After this happened, the culture and lifestyles of the local people drastically changed. Once the colonial powers had control over the islands, they introduced African slaves into the region to work in the sugar plantations.
The culture from these European nations began to mix with local and African cultures and new cultures were created in the areas where they settled.
Caribbean culture is at the heart of the Caribbean experience. Its culture includes, the food, music and dance, language, history and festivals.
Caribbean history has heavily influenced local food and music. Caribbean food for example, often combines African and colonial influences. Since African slaves frequently tried to imitate food they ate while still in Africa, but they didn’t have access to the necessary ingredients, slaves would often use ingredients not used by their overseers in their food. Therefore, Caribbean spices became commonplace in African influenced food. Food is a very important aspect of many family traditions and Caribbean culture. During holidays and other special events, it is not uncommon for people to spend many days preparing food.
Caribbean cuisine is an exquisite blend of African, Asian, European, and Carib Indian (the area’s original inhabitants) foods. Dishes are highly seasoned, either with a dry rub or marinade —or both.
Caribbean foods are cooked with distinct spices and ingredients found in the region. Well known Caribbean cuisine includes key lime pie, barbecued ribs served with guava sauce, chicken kebab jerk chicken, and much more
A popular Caribbean dish is seasoned jerk chicken. Rice served with beans and different sauces is a staple food throughout the Caribbean.
A traditional goat stew is a well-recognized national dish. A prominent African influenced Caribbean dish, callaloo, combines leafy greens with okra. Western African influenced saltfish can be found throughout Caribbean.
Notwithstanding, its rich culture and heritage, the Caribbean lifestyle – is unquestionably a product of its exotic, tropical setting.
Most fruits like bananas, oranges, pineapples, coconuts mangoes, pawpaw, and a host of other “tropical fruits” known in the Western world come from Africa or The Caribbean.
