What is Jerk? 

Jerk cooking dates back to the Caribbean Arawak Indians who inhabited Jamaica. After catching an animal and cleaning it, they would place it in a deep pit lined with stones and covered with green wood, which would smoke heavily when burned. Allspice trees (or as we call them pimento) are common in Jamaica, and the leaves, berries and branches give the jerked food a unique flavor. To jerk something simply means to marinate meat in spices poking small holes in to allow the flavor to absorb into the meat. This also allows the steam to escape and helps make the meat juicy and flavorful.

The art of “jerking” meat was further honed by runaway slaves called Maroons, who formed settlements in the hilly interior of the island during British and Spanish colonial rule. 

Today, Jerk cooking forms a very important segment of Jamaican and wider Caribbean cuisine. 

Jamaican Jerk Hut has introduced Jerk cuisine to Mid-Missouri without compromising the distinct traditional taste, but please let us know if you would like the level of spiciness turned up a notch.