Labor Day is coming up, why not celebrate Jerk culture? Did you know: the word “Jerk” comes from the word “Charqui” – a word used in the Andes culture for dried meat. That term morphed to our word for dried meat: “jerky.” The biggest Caribbean population outside of the Caribbean is in the US (#2 Canada, #3 Spain, and #4 UK). Jerk spice usually contains chiles, thyme, cumin, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and garlic. It is a rub and can be a marinade or sauce. If scotch bonnet peppers are used – it is hot! Scotch bonnet peppers are Caribbean red chili peppers. At 350,000 Scoville Heat Units, they are hotter than the habanero (260,000 Scoville heat units). The more colorful word “jerk” came into our language in the 1880’s via steam locomotive slang for taking boiler water from a creek or “jerkwater.” It then got picked up in the carnival circuit and shortened to one of our favorite insults: “JERK!” Come on down to the UCLA Jerk Fest – Aug 31 & Sept 1 for some great music, food and culture. http://www.jerkfoodfest.com
