At Caribbean Paradise Restaurant, we cook with love. It was Grandmama who shared her deep knowledge of local spices and herbs, combined with their understanding of how native aromatics could enhance and balance intense flavors, that inspired Caribbean Paradise to create the perfect cultural and culinary soil for curry to take root and transform.

In Part One, we talked about the indigenous recipes and spices like allspice and scotch bonnet peppers, as well as herbal remedies that arrived through various cultural exchanges but have become essential to Caribbean cooking. The world’s first native chefs shared deep knowledge of indigenous peppers, combined with their understanding of how native aromatics could enhance and balance intense flavors, created the perfect cultural and culinary soil for curry to take root and transform the community.

Picking Herbs From The Ackee Tree

These spices have found their way into the kitchens of celebrated chefs like Trinidadian, Marcus Samuelsson of the Food Network, who incorporates Caribbean influences into his African and Scandinavian cooking, and Caribbean icon, Levi Roots, who introduced vibrant Jamaican flavors to the UK food scene. The versatility and complex flavor profiles of these Caribbean spices make them invaluable tools for creating the layered, aromatic dishes that define modern Caribbean-inspired cuisine in restaurants worldwide.

Top 5 Caribbean Spices Used by World-Renowned Chefs

These Caribbean spices have become essential ingredients in the kitchens of celebrity chefs and Michelin-starred establishments:

Allspice (Pimento) – Jamaica’s indigenous “wonder spice” combining cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove flavors S

Scotch Bonnet Peppers – The Caribbean’s signature heat, used fresh and dried by top chefs

Thyme – Essential in jerk seasoning and beloved by chefs for its earthy complexity

Nutmeg – Originally from Grenada, prized for both sweet and savory applications

Cinnamon – Both Ceylon and cassia varieties feature prominently in Caribbean-inspired dishes

Learn more – Part Three

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Authentic Caribbean Recipe

Jerk Chicken
(Jamaican spicy grilled chicken)
Yield: 4-5 servings

INGREDIENTS PREP AMOUNT
Chicken pieces 3-4 lbs

Scallions minced – 1 bunch
Garlic minced – 3-6 cloves
Ginger minced – 1-2 Tablespoon
Peppers, hot chile minced – 2-6 each
Soy sauce – 1/4 cup
Lime juice – 1/4 cup
Brown sugar – 1/4 cup
Water – 1/4 cup
Oil – 1/4 cup
Salt 1 Tablespoon
Allspice, ground – 1 Tablespoon
Cinnamon, ground – 2 Tablespoon
Pepper – 2 Tablespoon
Thyme, dried – 1 Tablespoon

METHOD
Basic Steps: Mix ? Marinate ? Grill
In a large bowl, mix together all but chicken well. Adjust flavors to your taste. Add chicken and let marinate at least 3-4 hours, preferably overnight.

Grill chicken pieces over a slow fire till cooked through.

VARIATIONS
Substitute pork or firm white fish for the chicken if you like. The fish will not need to be marinated as long.
If grilling isn’t possible, roast the pieces in a 350° oven till done, about 30-45 minutes. Or chicken can be grilled till browned on outside and then finished in a 350° oven.

NOTES
Jerk originated with the Arawak Indians of Jamaica. They would roast game over fires of pimento wood, the fruit of which is allspice. The wood would impart a distinctive flavor to the meat. So a jerk marinade must contain allspice.

A true Jamaican would use Habanero or Scotch Bonnet peppers, the hottest peppers there are. But you can lower the heat of your marinade by using jalapeños or Serranos instead.

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