My Top 14 Caribbean Jerk Seasonings For Every Occasion
There is nothing else out there like Caribbean jerk seasoning. If you’ve ever had it, you might want to try recreating that sensation at home. You may have even tried using a store-brand jerk marinade from your local supermarket but didn’t get the results you were hoping for.
The popular spice combination has been around for almost a century. While many know the term ‘jerk’ as a seasoning, it also refers to a way of cooking.
This process includes smoking well-marinated meat over the greenwood of a pimento tree that has been covered with large sheets of metal. Jerk flavor seasoning or marinade has traditionally been used as a rub for chicken and pork, but it may be used on any meat of your choosing.
Best Caribbean jerk seasoning combines common herbs and spices, including sweet and spicy peppers, pimentos, cinnamon, garlic, allspice, thyme, and nutmeg, as well as a touch of brown sugar.
Jerk seasoning can be purchased at a store as a powder or marinade or made at home. However, most people outside of the Caribbean buy jerk spice, since it’s exceedingly difficult to get the ingredients to create jerk chicken or jerk pork at home.
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How To Choose the Best Caribbean Jerk Seasoning
The problem with making a good jerk seasoning is that it may be exceedingly difficult without authentic ingredients that can only be obtained in Jamaica. Therefore, it’s worthwhile to buy traditional jerk spice or marinade made with the right ingredients.
If you want a traditional Jamaican jerk seasoning, the flavor of the seasoning is arguably the most significant factor to consider. All the elements must complement one another in order to create a well-rounded meal.
You’ll also want to look for traditional ingredients. The greatest jerk marinade is made with scotch bonnet peppers, so it should be spicy. However, the heat should not overshadow the other components and should blend with the other tastes in the seasoning.
The 14 Best Caribbean Jerk Seasonings
Which Caribbean jerk seasoning is the best to buy? You’ll want a jerk seasoning with a robust flavor and a broad mix of ingredients. The 14 recommendations below appeal to a variety of palates. You’re sure to find the best Caribbean jerk seasoning that blends the traditional flavors with your own personal preferences.
McCormick Caribbean Jerk Seasoning
McCormick’s Caribbean jerk seasoning is a dry rub that offers a terrific overall taste and a slight bit of heat. Sugar, allspice, red pepper, thyme, salt, onion, and turmeric are the main ingredients in this blend, creating that authentic Caribbean flavor you’d expect.
It’s great as a dry rub for grilled meats, but it’s also great for flavoring fish, rice, and vegetables. Because it is a dry rub, you will need to brush some olive oil on the chicken to help the spices adhere.
Overall, the McCormick jerk seasoning is one of the greatest and most widely available jerk seasonings.
Dunn’s River Jamaican Marinade
Dunn’s River is full of flavor and fire and is definitely one of the most authentic jerk seasonings you’ll find. The seasoning’s components are entirely fresh and natural. It’s a mix of scallions, spicy peppers, salt, thyme, and other herbs and spices.
Because it is produced with traditional ingredients, it is sure to provide a unique taste to a variety of recipes, including chicken, fish, and vegetarian alternatives.
If you like heat, then you’re in luck. It has a lot of flavors, so don’t add any extra spices like salt or chili pepper since it will be too much to handle. Also, be mindful of the amount of jerk marinade you use. Overall, this is a fantastic jerk marinade with a distinct aroma and flavor.
Badia Jamaican Style Jerk Seasoning
If you want a Caribbean jerk seasoning that isn’t too spicy or too sweet but still full of flavor, then you might want to try this seasoning from Badia. This Caribbean flavor blend is perfect for grilling, baking, broiling, or frying when used on pork, chicken, steak, lamb, and fish.
While brown sugar is a common ingredient in traditional jerk seasoning, sweetness in food isn’t everyone’s preference. This seasoning would suit someone who loves the flavor of jerk seasoning but wants something with less sugar. You could also add it to your favorite barbeque sauce recipe without worrying about extra sugar.
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Gustus Vitae Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
Gustus Vitae’s gourmet spice blend has a genuine Caribbean flavor and is made with natural, sustainably derived ingredients. The Taste of Jamaica is a diversified combination of bold, spicy, and rich tastes that bring the Caribbean right to your kitchen. Some of these ingredients include garlic, thyme, black pepper, cinnamon, allspice, ginger, red pepper, sage, and jalapeno.
This seasoning has the spiciness of classic jerk seasoning, but it is not so hot that you can’t appreciate the rich flavor combination. This is greatly used as a rub on slow-cooked meats, transforming simple recipes into hallmark favorites.
Neera Hot Jamaican Jerk Spice
Neera’s Jamaican Jerk spice offers an excellent overall taste and a decent degree of heat. This jerk seasoning is made with natural and fresh ingredients that complement each other well, creating a mouthwatering dish. Some of these ingredients include lemon juice, malt vinegar, chili peppers, allspice, garlic, onion, salt, black pepper, habanero chili, and other spices.
While there is some heat, the flavor is moderate, making it ideal for individuals who prefer their spices on the milder side. Overall, the Neera Jerk spice is one of the greatest Jamaican jerk seasonings to buy and a fantastic choice to add to your pantry.
Spiceology Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub
This Jamaican jerk seasoning from Spiceology is fantastic for anything you want that Caribbean flair on. It is a smoky Caribbean Spice rub with notes of garlic, chili, onion, and hints of cinnamon. Even though it is low in sodium and sugar, it is packed with jerk flavor. However, this has some heat, as one would hope, so you will want to experiment with the amount when cooking.
Spiceology Jamaican Jerk is a gourmet spice rub ideal for grilling, smoking, sauces, and stews. Jamaican Jerk rub can be used on beef, chicken, fish, pork, or vegetables. Overall, it is a wonderful choice for individuals new to cooking jerk or who want foods with an authentic Caribbean flavor.
Jamspice Jerk Seasoning
Jamspice’s Jerk Seasoning is loaded with herbs and spices that give it that world-famous Caribbean flavor. This sweet, smoky, and gently spicy sauce is not only delicious on jerk chicken, but also pork, fish, beef, shrimp, and potatoes.
This jerk seasoning quickly penetrates the meat, providing flavor and spice to all of your recipes. Mix it with other seasonings to achieve the desired effect for barbeque or sauces. If you want a sweet flavor that is also somewhat spicy and salty, this is the one to try.
Walkerswood Jamaican Jerk Marinade
Walkerswood Jamaican jerk seasoning is aromatic and versatile, adding a Caribbean kick to chicken, lamb, pork, fish, and vegetable dishes. This spice comes in two varieties—hot and mild. Some of the ingredients you can expect include scallions, scotch bonnet peppers, salt, black pepper, allspice, nutmeg, citric acid, sugar, and thyme.
This spice is ideal for cooks who prefer to experiment with different heat levels. However, the spice level isn’t particularly strong, so if you’re looking for a more flavorful seasoning, consider one of the other options.
Eaton’s Jerk Seasoning
Eaton’s Jerk seasoning encapsulates the authentic flavor of the Caribbean in a single bottle. Its taste and heat balance produces a flexible jerk seasoning that can give a little bite to your favorite meals without becoming overbearing. With flavors of garlic, red peppers, onion, thyme, and black pepper, this jerk spice rub is best used as a flavoring for fish, beef, or pork.
The spices and seasonings in this bottle work nicely as a hot seasoning with all of your favorite foods that require flavor seasoning due to their refined taste. However, it has a bit of a kick, so this is for those hoping for some heat.
ColemanJ’s Spicey Jamaican Jerk Seasoning
ColemanJ’s Spicy Jamaican Jerk Blend adds a spicy dash of Caribbean flavor to beef, chicken, fish, pork, seafood, and vegetables. Among the numerous pepper tastes are hints of cinnamon, coriander, garlic, brown sugar, and thyme.
This spice creates the perfect Jerk chicken with the right amount of flavor, heat, and consistency. It’s spicy and fragrant without any of the unnecessary additions, preservatives, or fillers. ColemanJ’s jerk blend is also USDA Certified Organic and gluten-free, making it a popular choice among health-conscious consumers.
Reggae Spice Jamaican Jerk Wet Rub
If you’re looking for a jerk blend with authentic Caribbean ingredients, the Reggae Spice’s Jamaican Jerk Seasoning may be right up your alley. This seasoning is made in the USA from spices shipped directly from Jamaica to ensure the best quality and most distinct flavors.
Reggae Spice’s jerk blend is a wet marinade that can instantly be applied to meat before tossing it on the grill. It also works great on beef, pork, chicken, seafood, and vegetables.
With an ingredients list that includes sweet peppers, vinegar, onions, and spice, you can expect a mixture of tang and heat from this seasoning. While the flavor does pack a punch, it’s not overwhelming.
Miss P Caribbean Jerk Seasoning
Miss P’s Caribbean Jerk spice is a delicious, family-friendly addition that everyone will appreciate. While it’s flavorful and leaves you wanting more, the heat is mild enough for the whole family. It has the ideal combination of 13 natural herbs and spices for a delectable, savory, and smokey feast.
Miss P’s jerk blend can be applied to beef, pork, poultry, fish, vegetables, or tofu. It can go from the grill to the tabletop in a matter of minutes, whether you’re putting it on the grill or baking it in the oven.
Island Spice Jerk Seasoning
Island Spice Jerk Seasoning combines natural Caribbean tastes with just the right amount of salty, tangy, and spicy flavor. Each bottle contains a classic combination of Jamaican pimento, pepper, garlic, and other spices and tastes included in every authentic Jamaican jerk cuisine.
It works great as a dry rub, but you can also try mixing it with other spices and liquids to customize the taste to your liking. The spice gives a kick to whatever you put it on and improves the flavor of the dish you’re preparing. Island Spice Jerk Seasoning is an excellent choice for a flexible seasoning that can be used on a variety of dishes.
Karjos Jerk Seasoning
This is another option for those looking for mild heat but lots of flavor. Karjos Jerk Seasoning is an authentic spice blend straight from Jamaica. Made with salt, sugar, crushed chilis, pimento, garlic, coriander, and cinnamon, this spice blend will bring a Caribbean food experience right to your kitchen.
Though often used as a dry rub, this blend can be mixed with other ingredients to create soups and sauces full of flavor. One thigs to note is that the salt content is a bit high, so if you try this one out, keep in mind that a little bit goes a long way.
Bottom Line
When looking for the best Caribbean jerk seasoning, we recommend a combination with a wide variety of real spices. You’ll want a robust and tasty mix that doesn’t need any additional ingredients to liven it up.
Of course, you’ll want it to suit your personal standards for ingredients and quality. Maybe you like more spice or prefer a jerk seasoning with a sweet taste? Hopefully, one of the pre-mixed spices listed above will supply you with the precise flavor you’re searching for. You might even try mixing your own to make a customized blend.
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