A Jamaican patty is a golden coloured flaky pastry that contains a spicy filling, the most popular of which is ground beef. Other fillings which may be offered include: chicken; goat; pork; lobster; shrimp; vegetable and even Jamaica’s national fruit, ackee.
Originating in Jamaica, it is the most popular convenience food in Jamaica. Served hot from the patty shop oven in a paper bag, Jamaican patties are usually eaten on the go straight from the paper bag. For most busy Jamaicans the patty is most popular at lunch time, eaten one or two for lunch while in school or at work. Being affordable and available everywhere in Jamaica, the patty is more than a snack: it’s a filling breakfast or lunch and can even be eaten for dinner. This Jamaican staple can also be made as bite-sized portions called cocktail patties.
The patty is a product of colonialism and migration developed after the introduction of the Cornish pasty, mixed with cumin and curry seasonings from Indian indentured labourers and the Scotch bonnet, a hot pepper indigenous to Jamaica. From these multicultural roots, Jamaicans made the patty their own.
Almost every nationality has a form of patty. South Asians have the samosa, Puerto Ricans the pastelillos, the Greeks the spanakopita, and the English the Cornish pasty. What they all have in common is that they’re filling, compact and easy to eat, a sort of traditional fast food. Across the Caribbean, patties are considered the ultimate street food.
In the 1960s and 1970s Jamaicans brought recipes for the patties with them when many went to the United States of America, Canada and the United Kingdom (UK) as hospital orderlies, home health aides and nurses. This led to patties being offered at restaurants in areas of the New York Metropolitan Area with high Caribbean populations. Patties are equally popular in UK cities with large Caribbean populations, such as Birmingham, Manchester and London. Their popularity is spreading in the UK and they are becoming available in many mainstream outlets.
The humble patty was forever introduced to the world and can now be found wherever there is a Caribbean community. In Australia patties with beef, chicken or vegetable fillings are offered frozen by Jamaican Products.
In this unprecedented time in our history Jamaican Products is aware of challenges faced by many households. It can be difficult working from home as well as having to home school the kids. For others they may be tired of seeing the same 4 walls, or cooking and eating what is the pantry.
Why not try something different? Crank up Bob Marley or your favourite Jamaican music artist to accompany your meal. Get into the Caribbean grove while cooking and eating our delicious Take & Bake range of jerk seasoned chicken wings and patties. These Jamaican Party Food are suitable for any occasion, snack, lunch or dinner.
We offer a Special on patties and discounted no contact weekly home delivery to our Sydney customers, so place your order. To view the delivery fee and Sydney postcodes to which the offer applies, read the Take & Bake Special.
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One Response
Please please somehow find a way to freeze them and send to other areas like the samosas, spanakopitas etc and we can buy from the supermarket freezer. Your Pattie’s are so good Hope, miss them badly.