Here’s a flavorful overview of the food of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
Traditional Food of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Vincentian cuisine is a mix of African, Indigenous Carib, French, and British influences, rooted in local agriculture, seafood, and spices. Meals are often hearty, home-cooked, and rich in flavor.
National Dish
Roasted Breadfruit and Fried Jackfish
- Breadfruit (a starchy, potato-like fruit) is roasted whole over an open flame.
- Served with crispy fried jackfish, pickled onions, and a spicy pepper sauce.
- A true symbol of Vincentian identity.
Popular Traditional Dishes
Callaloo Soup
- Made with callaloo leaves (similar to spinach), coconut milk, crab or pork, and local herbs.
- Creamy, earthy, and nutritious.
Pelau
- A one-pot dish of rice, peas, chicken or beef, and coconut milk, seasoned with herbs and spices.
Dumplings
- Served boiled or fried, often with saltfish, soup, or stew.
Saltfish and Ground Provisions
- Salted cod served with yam, dasheen (taro), cassava, plantains, and sweet potatoes.
Goat Water
- A spicy stew made from goat meat, herbs, spices, and thickened with flour.
- Often eaten during festive gatherings.
Seafood
- Fish is a staple, especially:
- Kingfish
- Snapper
- Mahi-mahi
- Conch
- Lobster and crab (in season)
- Often grilled, curried, or stewed.
Vegetarian Staples
- Breadfruit
- Green bananas (figs)
- Cassava, yam, eddoe, and pumpkin
- Legumes: lentils, black-eyed peas
Pepper Sauce
- A must-have condiment!
- Made with scotch bonnet peppers, vinegar, garlic, and herbs.
- Varies from mildly tangy to fiery hot.
Breads and Snacks
- Johnny cakes – fried dough bread
- Bakes – slightly sweet, pan-fried or baked bread
- Cassava bread – traditional and gluten-free
- Plantain chips, tambran (tamarind) balls, and sugar cakes
Desserts
- Sweet potato pudding
- Cassava pone
- Black cake (rum cake, popular at Christmas)
- Coconut drops
Popular Drinks
Non-Alcoholic:
- Mauby – made from tree bark, with a bittersweet flavor
- Sorrel – hibiscus drink, especially during Christmas
- Ginger beer – homemade and spicy
- Golden apple juice, soursop juice, lime juice
Alcoholic:
- Rum punch – a fruity blend of rum, juices, and spices
- Sunset Very Strong Rum – locally made, extremely potent (84.5% alcohol)
- Locally brewed beers and fruit wines
Street Food Favorites
- Roti – flatbread filled with curried chicken, beef, or veggies
- Grilled corn, barbecue chicken, and fried fish
- Vendors often sell meals in foil boxes called “box lunches“
