This email is lovingly delivered to you by Wellesley Gayle (that's me)
My-Island-Jamaica Digest
Ezine: December 5, 2021
We are here !
Smack (almost) in the middle of the 'funnest' time of the year, Christmas!
And today, I'm gonna go with tradition, our tradition.
Wanna guess?
If you said, the Christmas Cake Recipe then you are right on!
Thanks to Petagay Satchell for the timely reminder :-)
Every year around this time, I pull up, dust off, and share with my readers this delectable, traditional Jamaican Christmas Cake recipe!
The idea is not only to remind them of the ingredients to prepare it, but also to give you some lead time on soaking those lovely fruits 😊
Which creates most fitting segue to its best friend, Jamaican sorrel 😊
Both Christmas cake and sorrel are an absolute must at Christmas here in Jamaica! But I bet you never that it has so many health benefits?
Remember too that have several other new and insightful content on the website via the blog, so please stop by and check them out.
And now, the...
Today I have the pleasure of visiting a female farmer, Ms. Kathlyn, at her farm in Somerton, St. James, Jamaica.
Why so? For Sorrel 😋
And in this video, she shows us how to plant and harvest this Jamaican favorite.
But she wasn't done as yet, she had a special surprise for us!
She showed us how to prepare the sorrel drink and treated us with some, spiced with cinnamon, ginger, pimento, rice, sugar and Jamaican rum - yum yum!
You'll savor this moment! Here is it, embedded below.
Please be sure to LIKE and comment on this awesome video.
And if you found it insightful, please SHARE it with someone, the more the merrier!
Featured Jamaican Product
I read something last week where social media was tearing up veteran broadcaster and cultural icon, Faye Ellington (particularly Instagram), for her alleged 'inappropriate dress' remark on Rhianna dress at her prestigious Hero award ceremony.
But wrong or right, I felt a little unease for her, as she is, along with icons like Oliver Samuels and Louise Bennett, have made significant contributions to our culture and heritage. And she is probably one of the few still standing.
So today, I celebrate them, the true cultural ambassadors, and proud product of this our 'Jamaica Land We Love'!
Soon after I premiered the sorrel video yesterday, Angela, one of my viewers made this comment...
"Interesting: Thanks for sharing. However you keep saying Jamaican sorrel, as though only Jamaicans grow sorrel. And that its the only one that has all its nutrition. I live in the Caribbean and grow plenty plenty. I spent some years in Africa and saw miles and miles of sorrel growing all over..And they all carry the same nutrition value...."
GLAD SHE COMMENTED!
It was actually a very good observation, so I grabbed the opportunity to respond to her. Below was my response.
"Actually, interesting point Angela! But is Jamaican sorrel indeed. Sorrel (by itself) try googling it, is actually a spinach like vegetable (https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/sorrel-benefits).
The other names for what we call 'Jamaican sorrel' are roselle or Hibiscus sabdariffa, originally native to Africa.
So remember now, if you say just sorrel it is something else. Thanks for the opportunity to clarify this🙏"
So today I recognize her for reaching out to me with this comment and allowing me to respond accordingly.
Did you know...
... that Jamaica is called the ‘Land of Wood and Water’? This meaning was actually derived from the word 'Xamayca' that was use by the Tainos.
The Tainos were the earliest recorded settlers in Jamaica. They were here from as early as 1,000 BC, until the Spanish arrived - which is another story.
This too, is yet another interesting fact from my 101 Intriguing Facts About Jamaica book.
Last week promise, delivered!
In the form of the Sorel video?
What do you make of it though? And what other suggestions you have for me?
Drop me a line and kindly let me know :-)
By the way, I look forward to having you on my weekly video premiere at 6pm on Saturday ok 😉
Here again is the YouTube link to stay subscribe and stay notified.
And that's it for today. As usual, thank you for your time, I do appreciate it. Until next week again I say, especially with all these new variants on our heels, #KeepSafeAndSane
Note: If you missed any of these juicy newsletter editions in the past, you can find them in our nicely arranged archives.
P.PS. Please consider joining my exclusive Jamaica-loving patron community called JAMHearts, click here for see how.
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