Meaning
Chicken marinated in fiery jerk seasoning — scotch bonnet pepper, pimento (allspice), thyme, scallion, and a store of spices — then slow-smoked over pimento wood or coals until charred, smoky, and tender. Jamaica's most famous dish and one of its gifts to the world, jerk chicken is sold everywhere, from the roadside oil-drum grill and the jerk pan to the finest restaurant, its smoke and its heat unmistakable. Descended from the Maroons' way of cooking and preserving meat, it is the very taste of Jamaica for many the world over.
Examples
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Buy a quarter jerk chicken wid festival off di drum pan.
Buy a quarter of jerk chicken with festival off the drum grill.
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Di jerk chicken hot an smoky, real authentic.
The jerk chicken is spicy and smoky, truly authentic.
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Boston famous fi di best jerk chicken pon di island.
Boston (Portland) is famous for the best jerk chicken on the island.
Origin
'Jerk' as a cooking method traces to the Maroons, who seasoned and smoked meat over pimento wood; the word may come from the Spanish 'charqui' (dried meat). Now Jamaica's signature culinary export.
How it’s used
The flagship of Jamaican cuisine. The 'jerk' method is also applied to pork, fish, and more.