Jamaican Herbs/Spices

Treasure Beach Forum: TB Runnin's: Jamaican Herbs/Spices
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Cynthia in Canada. on Sunday, January 13, 2008 - 10:27 pm: Edit Post

Help Needed,
I would appreciate getting info on our herbs and its uses. I remember a few like Cerosy,Vervine,Bissy (Kola Nut),Cheyney Root& Strong Back, but I cant remember the rest.My nephew is studying Naturapatic and Herbal Medicine and needs this information.
Thank a lot.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 02:56 pm: Edit Post

Hello Cynthia, the library at the University of the West Indies has publications on the subject, a talk with a librarian there may be the thing for him to do.

Assuming he is out of Jamaica, a trip to The Rock would serve him well.

Visits to the UWI, Depts at the Min of Agriculture, National Library and most importantly visits to some of the bush healers would take him to the heart of the matter.

I would recommend trips to Cuba and Haiti to round out his exploration.

I would appreciate any further discussion on organic herb and spice cultivation/collection for local use and export.

I am a Canadian resident and am considering expanding Ca and Ja links in this field.




Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Canada 2 on Tuesday, January 15, 2008 - 07:18 pm: Edit Post

Hi Turey great job good luck.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 02:00 pm: Edit Post

Thanks Ca2!

Check the price of organic ginger in the local organic groceries in Ca.

Jamaican ginger is legendary and with brand 'Jamaica' it would be a winner.

Jamaican organic tobacco might have a market with our cousin Native tribes and others.

How about Lignum Vitae gum? there was a market for it a while back. Natural dyes that were displaced by analine dyes may have a comeback in these 'natural' times. Etc, etc.

There was always the dis that "Jamaica is a country of samples".

Then, how bout we start focussing on encouraging the finest samples on the planet?

Smallish organic chains would be ideal for our production capabilities at present.

All feedback is appreciated.

Encouragement is the real gold! from it comes money, not the other way around.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Jamaican on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 08:15 pm: Edit Post

Not everything "Jamaican" is made in Jamiaca, but others capitalizing on the name because they know that all things Jamaican sell. BEWARE!!!


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By MilwaukeeMike on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 09:51 pm: Edit Post

I always thought that bottles of Jamaican ginger, allspice (pimento), pepper sauce and jerk seasonings in a nice St. Elizabeth woven basket would make a great gift basket, maybe on eBay.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Canada 2 on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 10:43 pm: Edit Post

Hi Turey the "Jamaica ginger is considered the best.Although some ginger is now cultivated in Florida. This is not be confused with the wild ginger(Asarum Canadene).also known as the Canada snakeroot.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Canada 2 on Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 11:09 pm: Edit Post

Turey the Gum Resin are used by botanic practitioners.The wood is largely in the manufacture of blood purifiers,often combined with sarsaparilla.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 02:24 pm: Edit Post

Thanks Jamaican, Canada2 and MilwaukeeMike.

I hope the ideas and data we post will inspire others.

Others have indeed profited from using the Jamaica name to attract sales. Apart from any legal action our gov takes, it is a confirmation that Jamaica sells. We just need to keep our quality high and packaging sustainable and attractive with good info.

A bredrin and I collected tears of lignum gum one day Ca2. In about 4 hours we gathered about 20lb with no damage to trees. It is also used medically in blood diagnostic work and was sold as a sugared pastille in europe in the 19th C. We attempted to find a small botanical supply house that would purchase with no luck. With persistance and networking I'm sure markets will be found for such rareties.

Not in the Herb and spice dept but west indian ebony (brya ebenus)is considered the wood of choice for flutes and bagpipes.

It grows wild in Kingston. As it is very difficult to obtain, wood turners pay a high price. The seeds are tiny and germinate easily in damp soil.

Later.








Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Thursday, January 17, 2008 - 10:53 pm: Edit Post

Yes Jamaican, I went to a supermarket this morning and there was Jamaica ginger beer.

It had ginger root, sugar etc but there was no mention of Jamaica.

At winter time especially, pimento dram is a hit. Warmed. The big batch productions I tasted never had the magic of the individual recipes aged in the correct vessels near where the ripe pimento berries were picked.

Has anyone attempted to collect the disapearing plums, giant naseberries, rare mangos etc?


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Questions on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 02:49 pm: Edit Post

I make it my point of duty to check the labels, where the product was made or if the manufacturer is a Jamaican because everybody is flying under 'MY' flag. Get my meaning? I try to keep my dollar where it counts, and that is in full support of my people.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Rebecca on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 03:17 pm: Edit Post

Another prime example of this is Jamaican Blue Mountain Coffee. If it doesn't have the Jablum stamp on it, it is not 100% Blue Mountain Coffee. I heard a story from a Blue Mountain Coffee grower saying these imitation packagers put literally one or two Blue Mnt. Coffee beans in the entire package of coffee and then advertise as Blue Mnt. Coffee and sell it very cheap. Sure enough I was visiting my parents one time and saw a huge box of "Blue Mnt. Coffee" on the shelf at BJ's Wholesale for a very cheap price. I looked for the Jablum stamp and sure didn't see it!

This absolutely hurts the coffee growers of Jamaica and the quality of the actual true product is compromised.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Canada 2 on Friday, January 18, 2008 - 09:30 pm: Edit Post

JAMAICA SARSAPARILLA(Similax Officinalis)The native American sarsaparilla it is claimed it does not possess the same properties as the imported. The name "sarsaparilla" is expensive of the character of the plant.being derived from two Spanish words which signify a small thorny vine.It is called zarsaparilla is most commonly used in the U.S and is considered superior to any of the other kinds,It is said to derive that name from the Island of Jamaica.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Lawyer on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 01:54 pm: Edit Post

There is a manufacturer in New York whose labels carry the Map of Jamaica with WEST INDIAN as the only entry on the map. Above the map "PRODUCT OF JAMAICA" is captioned. The label has a city and state, no phone number, no website. I tried to locate their profile online, nothing was found. I called 411 for assistance, they found no listing either. Perhaps this is one of the people Questions spoke about.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 03:13 pm: Edit Post


Went to said supermarket again this morning.

Found a hot pepper sauce called Jamaica Mistake. No mention of Ja otherwise. Facety!

Jamaican grown foods have "power".

I have heard this from so many sensible sources outside of Ja.

I also hear from some of the old heads that pre WW2 local food had more "power" partly because artificial fertilisers and chemicals had not yet taken hold. Maintaining soil fertility was paramount. Dirt...y hands also was honorable.

Is it true that war inspired chemistry, especially in the 3rd Reich, gave a great push to the green revolution that has turned out to be not so green.

Thanks for your info Canada2.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 03:44 pm: Edit Post

Milwaukee Mike, just remembered that someone was packaging hot pepper, spices etc in a small basket. I think they were in Kingston.

Similar packaging and contents should have a market, it's just to find it and at the right price. Ebay may be worth a try.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Saturday, January 19, 2008 - 05:52 pm: Edit Post

Rebecca, one should look for the certificate from Jamaica Coffee Industry Board, Commercial division.

Jablum is a private concern whose products should have this certificate.

I look forward to the Board issuing a certificate for Jamaica Organic Blue Mountain Coffee.

If I can buy organic coffee from Costa Rica etc, why not from Ja?

There were no agricultural chemicals around in the 18th C when growing took off.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Canada 2 on Tuesday, January 22, 2008 - 08:30 pm: Edit Post

Corporation-is an ingenious device for obtainig individual profit without individual. responsibility


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By foodie on Wednesday, January 23, 2008 - 12:12 pm: Edit Post

Esau Kerr of The Blue Hole Garden in Roaring River, Westmoreland is the source of Jamaican-
produced and labeled herbs/spices/hotsauces packaged in a Jamaican market basket.

Blue Mountain Coffee is a misnomer to begin with
as it's a mix of many growers' beans and the
quality is NOT controlled.

Look to INDEPENDENT producers like Wallinford and
even better, Old Tavern Estate, for dependably
consistent and reputable beans. These producers
have literally fought (and died for their efforts) against the coffee
board in Jamaica to be able to produce and market their own beans, without the
politcal machinations of going before a coffee board on island. See GOURMET MAGAZINE, 2003 article on Old Tavern Estate for the story.

Like sugar in the US controlled by Dominicans and subsidized in exchange for their political clout in Florida. and tomatoes such as the non-conforming to round standards UGLI tomato, one
must look far beyond any government stamp to
assure top-quality.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 01:01 am: Edit Post

It seems Canada2 that one can move step by step away from natural cooperation and fair exchange into selfishness, coldness and gravilishusness (sp?). The first step makes it easier to do the next. Money/power rewards are a great motivator.

In the case of corporations gone wild, one of the steps may be the view of labour as a commodity valued by the hour.

The temptation then becomes great to equate human worth with the commodities produced from the earth. One day work of a man = so much gold or soybeans....or yuck; pork bellies.

Insulated by lawyers and accountants, ones business responsibilities revolve around the games of capital. The effects of decisions affecting human life quality are easily neglected when there is this degree of separation from what we call Livity here.

Otherwise put, how many MBA's does it take to make a small blue/green planet uninhabitable by humans.

Where individuals stubbornly hang on to the child within whose role is sensitivity and the rule of conscience, there the corporation may become a great cooperation whose fruits are sweet.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By turey on Thursday, January 24, 2008 - 01:05 am: Edit Post

Thanks foodie.

Quality and truthfullness will rise to the top eventually.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Canada 2 on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 11:12 pm: Edit Post

As scarce as truth is,the supply has always been in excess of the demand.


Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message  By Canada 2 on Friday, January 25, 2008 - 06:20 pm: Edit Post

Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work,so most people don't recognize them.