Barbadian Cuisine

Barbadian Cuisine is Spicy and Delicious

Because the ancestors of the individuals currently living in Barbados originally came from many different countries, the history and trends of the island’s cuisine has been heavily influenced by food from Spain, Portugal, England and West Africa which is where the slaves who were brought to country in the 1600s originated. In addition to ingredient and style influences from many foreign lands, most early food was made with items readily available on and around the island, such as guava, rice, and fish from the ocean. These items are still main ingredients in many current-day dishes.

In the Beginning

The Europeans who were the first to settle in Barbados brought with them many new types of fruit trees which the island had never before seen or grown. Nonetheless, the land and soil in Barbados was suitable for growing such trees, and the residents of the island began harvesting them. Sugar cane was one of the plants that the Europeans brought and because of its ability to thrive on the island as well as the demand for the product, sugar became the main ingredient in the country’s economy. The byproducts of sugar also helped the islanders develop such items as rum and molasses, which quickly became ingredients commonly used in Barbadian cooking.

The British Influenced Cuisine in Barbados

Both the culture and the cuisine in Barbados were greatly influenced by many foreign cultures, but predominately by the British. British style and ingredients can be found even in today’s modern cooking techniques.

Precursors to Current Foods

When the British decided to ship sugar cane to Barbados and attempt to grow it on the island beginning in the 1640s, the cuisine in Barbados changed. Because sugar and other British-brought plants were successfully grown on the island, the most common foods produced were sugar, different types of potatoes, corn, rice, and molasses. These ingredients still appear in many of the dishes served in Barbados today.

Tourism’s Influence on Barbadian Cuisine

Until the 1960s, Barbados’ most important economic factor was the production of sugar. However, since the 1960s, the economy began relying most heavily on the tourism industry. When tourism became popular on the island, it was quickly discovered that visitors preferred to eat traditional, home-style Barbadian food rather than the typical types of food they would eat in their home countries. Therefore, the hotels and other locations where vacationers stay while in Barbados have decided to offer traditional recipes filled with the ingredients that make Barbados famous.

Current Day Restaurants in Barbados

The island of Barbados has many, many restaurants ranging from casual to fine dining. It’s hard to find bad food in Barbados, but it’s also more expensive than food found on other Caribbean islands. In addition, reservations are recommended for dinner at most restaurants.

Popular Dishes

Flying Fish
This is a spicy dish that is served with a yellow sauce consisting of onions and mustard.
Pepperpot
Pepperpot is a traditional dish and contains pork. It is a very spicy cuisine. Most of the dishes on the island are spicy but also very delicious. However, because of the fact that many of the traditions and recipes descend from England, some select entrees or side dishes are on the more bland side.