A Brief History Of Ackee And Saltfish Jamaica's Staple Breakfast

Ackee and saltfish, Jamaica’s staple breakfast, is a tasty and nutritious way to start the day. However, even though ackee is the national fruit of Jamaica, neither ingredient is indigenous to the island. As with so much of modern Jamaica, even the breakfast has its roots in 18th-century colonialism. The fruit is African, the fish is European, but the finished dish is definitely Jamaican.

The ackee fruit, which grows on a large tree, originates in West Africa and is thought to have been brought to the Caribbean during the mid-1700s. It is easy to grow and prepare, and is one of the many African legacies of the Jamaican people. Care must be taken in the preparation of ackee due to poisonous toxins present in parts of the fruit. The outer red fruit looks something like a red bell pepper before it is fully ripe. When ripe, the fruit opens and releases some of its toxins (it shouldn’t be picked or prepared before this time). Inside the fruit there are dark coloured seeds, again not to be eaten due to toxicity, and yellow flesh — the bit that is eaten. The yellow flesh is then boiled. The fruit is so ubiquitous in Jamaica that it can be purchased fresh, in bags from street vendors, or even canned in the supermarket. During ackee season, it is normal to see people picking ackee from roadside trees to take home.

Saltfish is another import and is traditionally made from cod, although today any whitefish can be used (oily fish wouldn’t work due to the drying process). The fish is prepared and then dried before being salted to preserve it. Historically, drying is the oldest form of food preservation known. The northern European nations have been drying whitefish for more than 500 years. Salting was introduced during the 17th century, and subsequently this preserved and nutritious food began to be exported. The triangular trade between northern Europe, western Africa and the Americas introduced this otherwise northern European dish to the Caribbean at a similar time to ackee. Being able to preserve fish in a hot humid climate had a transformative effect on local diet and soon saltfish became a staple.

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

Increasingly we believe the world needs more meaningful, real-life connections between curious travellers keen to explore the world in a more responsible way. That is why we have intensively curated a collection of premium small-group trips as an invitation to meet and connect with new, like-minded people for once-in-a-lifetime experiences in three categories: Culture Trips, Rail Trips and Private Trips. Our Trips are suitable for both solo travelers, couples and friends who want to explore the world together.

Culture Trips are deeply immersive 5 to 16 days itineraries, that combine authentic local experiences, exciting activities and 4-5* accommodation to look forward to at the end of each day. Our Rail Trips are our most planet-friendly itineraries that invite you to take the scenic route, relax whilst getting under the skin of a destination. Our Private Trips are fully tailored itineraries, curated by our Travel Experts specifically for you, your friends or your family.

We know that many of you worry about the environmental impact of travel and are looking for ways of expanding horizons in ways that do minimal harm - and may even bring benefits. We are committed to go as far as possible in curating our trips with care for the planet. That is why all of our trips are flightless in destination, fully carbon offset - and we have ambitious plans to be net zero in the very near future.