The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History, Culture, and Cuisine

Many foods come to mind when people think of Jamaica, and one most often associated with Jamaican cuisine is jerk chicken. In this episode Hema is joined by Alyssa Sperry Bertrand, a retired pastry chef turned academic and historian, to discuss the evolution of jerk, from traditional methods to modern interpretations. They explore the origins as a food preservation method, the influence of the Taino people, Maroons and African cultures, and pimento wood, the one must have for authentic jerk.

Listen as we dive into the history and cultural significance of jerk in Jamaican cuisine, the must-have spices in its modern flavour profile, and the global influence of the dish.

Episodes Referenced

Caribbean Foodways with Dr. Candice Goucher

The connection between salt and spirituality with Alyssa Bertrand (Sperry)

Exploring Caribbean Heritage through food with Marie Mitchell

Belly Full Cookbook, Caribbean Food & Ingredients with Lesley Enston

Caribbean Culinary History with Keshia Sakarah

Resources and Links

Friends of Jamaica https://servejamaica.org/

Eating Jamaica: How Food is Used as a Tool to Create and Reinforce Cultural Identity

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

Join us onTikTok,Instagram andYouTube to continue the conversation. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!)https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

Alyssa Bertrand (Sperry) is a leading expert on salt, and its relationship to Jamaican culture(s). As a former chef, and historical ethnographer she provides insight into the role salt played in the development of culture and identities among the Maroons and Rastafarians by understanding salt’s role during the Atlantic Slave Trade and how it shaped the cultural identities of the past and present. Alyssa received her master’s degree at the Department of Global Studies at the University of Oregon and her bachelor’s degree at Washington State University in Anthropology and History. Alyssa has received numerous awards and grants for her research including the Oregon International Research Grant, Folger Shakespeare Library Scholarship, and Library Research Excellence Award at Washington State University.

Dive into the history of Caribbean cookbooks with Keja Valens, author of Culinary Colonialism, Caribbean Cookbooks, and Recipes for National Independence.

In this encore episode Keja Valens, Professor of English at Salem State University and author of 'Culinary Colonialism, Caribbean Cookbooks, and Recipes for National Independence' discusses creolization, early cookbook authors, and the cultural significance of historical cookbooks in the Caribbean. Keja shares insights from her academic research highlighting how colonialism shaped and transformed Caribbean food and culture.

About Keja Valens

Keja Valens is Professor of English at Salem State University. She teaches and writes on

Caribbean literatures, literatures of the Americas, queer theory, and food writing. Her recent

publications include Culinary Colonialism, Caribbean Cookbooks, and Recipes for National

Independence (Rutgers UP, 2024), “Home Cooking: Diaspora and Transnational Caribbean

Cookbooks” (Becoming Home: Diaspora and the Anglophone Transnational, Vernon Press,

2021), “Caribbean Ecopoetics: The Categorial Imperative and Indifference in the Caribbean

Environment” (Caribbean Literature in Transition, 1970-2020, Cambridge UP, 2020). She is

also author of Desire between Women in Caribbean Literature (Palgrave, 2013). When she is not

teaching or writing, she gardens, cooks, and eats.

Connect with her: https://directory.salemstate.edu/profile/keja.valens

How salt shaped Jamaica’s culture and subcultures

Hema is joined by Alyssa Sperry Bertrand, a retired pastry chef turned academic and historian, about her research on the historical and cultural significance of salt in Jamaica. Starting with the colonial era and the Spanish followed by the British, they explore the transition of Jamaica from a salt-producing island to a sugar-centric economy, the role of women in salt production, and the spiritual and practical implications of salt in the lives of Jamaican Maroon and Rastafarian communities.

Alyssa shares how she got the nickname ‘Salt Woman’ and the amusing quest to find an out-of-the-way salt pond in Jamaica, complete with rum and a game of dominoes.

Alyssa talks about her research methodology and the importance of honouring the voices of the communities she studied. The conversation highlights the multifaceted nature of salt, its impact on culture, and the ongoing relevance in understanding Caribbean history.

About Alyssa Sperry Bertrand

Alyssa Bertrand (Sperry) is a leading expert on salt, and its relationship to Jamaican culture(s). As a former chef, and historical ethnographer she provides insight into the role salt played in the development of culture and identities among the Maroons and Rastafarians by understanding salt’s role during the Atlantic Slave Trade and how it shaped the cultural identities of the past and present.

Alyssa received her master’s degree at the Department of Global Studies at the University of Oregon and her bachelor’s degree at Washington State University in Anthropology and History. Alyssa has received numerous awards and grants for her research including the Oregon International Research Grant, Folger Shakespeare Library Scholarship, and Library Research Excellence Award at Washington State University. Alyssa is also a contributing writer to the books Salt in Eastern North America and the Caribbean (University of Alabama Press, 2021) and Women Who Changed the World (ABC-CLIO, 2021). She also published an article in the World History Connected, “Eating Jamaica: How Food is Used to as a Tool to Create and Reinforce Cultural Identity,” (Vol. 18, No.1, 2021). Currently,

Alyssa serves on the board of Friends of Jamaica, a non-profit organization, helping to raise funds and provide grants to community-based projects around the island of Jamaica.

Resources and Links

Remembering Jah Calo

William Berryman art

Episodes Referenced

Caribbean Foodways with Dr. Candice Goucher

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

The Story of the Turtlemen: Navigating the Waters of Caribbean History

Who are the turtlemen of the Cayman Islands? In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Sharika Crawford, historian and author of The Last Turtleman of the Caribbean delves into the history and cultural significance of sea turtle hunting in the Caribbean, particularly focusing on the turtlemen of the Cayman Islands. She discusses the rich maritime culture that has often been overshadowed by plantation histories in the Caribbean, how turtle hunting evolved from a subsistence activity to a commercial enterprise, driven by demand for turtle meat and tortoiseshell products in global markets, the socio-economic dynamics of turtle hunting, including the class structures that emerged and the environmental implications.

Connect with Sharika Crawford

www.sharikacrawford.com

https://x.com/SharikaCrawfo17

The Last Turtlemen of the Caribbean Waterscapes of Labor, Conservation, and Boundary Making

Episodes referenced

Caribbean Foodways with Dr. Candice Goucher

Resources and Articles

Lions in Africa: Lincoln University Alumni in Kwame Nkrumah’s Ghana, 1951–1966

Dr. Archie Carr

The Sea Around Us, Rachel Carson

Peter Matthiessen

World History Connected review of The Last Turtlemen

Support the show

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

If you are enjoying the podcast, consider supporting the show to help us continue to make great content. Join us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to continue the conversation. Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

We'd love to hear from you!

Exploring Caribbean Identity, Food, and Family Stories with Marie Mitchell

Marie Mitchell, a chef, writer, and author of Kin: Caribbean Recipes for the Modern Kitchen joins Hema to talk about her Caribbean heritage and stories through the lens of her narrative cookbook,  that blends Caribbean history, culture, and cuisine. 

Marie’s book shares an intimate look at her family's journey, sadness & joy, and their resilience, plus her personal journey of connecting with her roots through cooking. Highlighting the significance of her family's legacy and the broader Caribbean experience, Marie's insights offer a profound exploration of identity, loss, and resilience. Listen to discover how food can serve as a bridge to understanding and celebrating the vibrant and layered Caribbean culture.

Connect with Marie MitchellWebsite 

Instagram 

Slow Rituals on Substack

Kin: Caribbean Recipes for the Modern Kitchen 

Episodes mentioned:Culinary Colonialism with Keja Valens

Photo Credit: Chiron Cole

Support the show

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

If you are enjoying the podcast, consider supporting the show to help us continue to make great content.Join us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to continue the conversation.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

We'd love to hear from you!

Understanding Reparations and Caribbean Justice with Brian Royce, Campaign Manager for The Repair Campaign

Hema is joined by Brian Royes, Campaign Manager for The Repair Campaign, an organization that amplifies for the call for former colonial powers to acknowledge their role in the transatlantic trafficking of enslaved Africans.

They delve into CARICOM's 10-point plan for reparations and reparatory justice, emphasizing the importance of an apology and accountability from those who benefitted from chattel slavery, the long-term socioeconomic and cultural impacts still being felt today, and the critical role of education on the topic. Brian passionately shares the necessity for reparations to foster true development and equity in the Caribbean. 

The Repair Campaign is an advocacy organisation supporting the Caribbean's reparatory justice movement guided by CARICOM's Ten-Point Plan for Reparatory Justice. We call on the UK and other European governments, institutions and individuals who perpetrated and benefited from chattel slavery and its legacy to apologise for these atrocities and commit to repair. We ask all who stand with this call to show their support by signing in solidarity at repaircampaign.org/sign. 

Instagram 

Facebook 

TikTok 

Connect with Brian

Instagram 

YouTube 

Resources

CARICOM Reparations Commission 

CARICOM 10 Point Plan for Reparatory Justice 

Mapping the Legacy of Slavery in London’s Docklands 

Heirs of Slavery 

William Gladstone’s Family apologises for role in slave trade  

Olaudah Equiano: Writer & Abolitionist

Episodes referenced

Slave Voyages: Documenting the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade with Dr. Gregory O’Malley and Dr. Nafees M. Khan 

Support the show

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

If you are enjoying the podcast, consider supporting the show to help us continue to make great content.Join us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to continue the conversation.Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

We'd love to hear from you!

The Indo-Caribbean Canadian Experience with Ryan Singh

In the last full episode of 2025, Hema is joined by Ryan Singh, the Founder of the Indo-Caribbean Canadian Association (ICCA). They explore the nuances of Indo-Caribbean identity, the impact of colonial history, and the struggle for cultural recognition in Canada. 

Ryan shares the origin story and mission of ICCA, various community programs such as youth mentorship, support for single parents, and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights, plus the Share Yuh Rice initiative that brought the Association to Hema’s attention. Share Yuh Rice aims to provide culturally appropriate food to food banks at Christmas and throughout the year.

Ryan talks about one of their big initiatives being led by the ICCA with participation from Caribbean organizations around the country: the petition for establishing a Caribbean Heritage Month in Canada, emphasizing the importance of cultural preservation, community engagement, and the intergenerational evolution of Indo-Caribbean traditions.

Links & Resources

• Indo-Caribbean Canadian Association 
• Donate to the Indo-Caribbean Canadian Association  
• Caribbean Heritage Month in Canada 
• Barbados House Montreal 

Episodes referenced:

Two Times Removed with Tiara Jade Chutkhan 

Support the show

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

If you are enjoying the podcast, consider supporting the show to help us continue to make great content.

Join us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to continue the conversation.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

We'd love to hear from you!

Caribbean Christmas Traditions and an Anansi story with Kesha Christie

In the final Caribbean folklore episode of 2025, Kesha shares some traditions and unique ways different Caribbean nations celebrate at Christmas, including bamboo bursting and Junkanoo, plus some of the favourite food & drink made at the end of the year. Of course, an episode with Kesha is not complete without a folktale and this time it’s Anansi and Sorrel.

Listen to more Caribbean folklore episodes

Exploring Caribbean Folklore with Kesha Christie
Trickster Tales
Anansi's Antics in Antigua & Barbuda
The Power of Pataki Stories in Cuba
A Lizard's Lesson
Making a Deal with Death
The Lady and Her Three Sons

Connect with Kesha

To learn more about Kesha and her work, visit http://www.talkintales.ca
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Walk Good podcast

Children’s Book: Mama Keeya’s Garden

Recipes from past guests

Teri’s Food Therapy Vodka Sorrel Fizz 

Teri’s Food Therapy Brown Sugar Glazed Ham 

3 Caribbean Recipes from Belly Full by Lesley Enston 

Recipes by Keshia Sakarah on YouTube 

Support the show

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

If you are enjoying the podcast, consider supporting the show to help us continue to make great content.

Join us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to continue the conversation.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

We'd love to hear from you!

Exploring the Untold Stories of Chinese-Caribbean Heritage 

In this episode, storyteller and frequent guest Kesha Christie dives into the often-overlooked Chinese-Caribbean heritage, exploring folktales and oral histories that highlight the rich cultural fusion in the Caribbean. 

Kesha talks about her research journey uncovering the often untold Chinese-Caribbean stories from Trinidad, Guyana, and Jamaica. The folktale 'The Lantern in the Cane Field,' brings in recognizable Chinese symbols like the dragon and lantern into Caribbean setting.

Resources

Event: Surfacing - Chinese Caribbean Intellectual Thought and Creative Practice https://sites.google.com/view/surfacing-2025 organized by the Chinese Caribbean Studies Network

What is Hakka Chinese? https://caribbeanchinese.ca/Hakka-Chinese 

Listen to more Caribbean folklore episodes

Exploring Caribbean Folklore with Kesha Christie
Trickster Tales
Anansi's Antics in Antigua & Barbuda
The Power of Pataki Stories in Cuba
A Lizard's Lesson
Making a Deal with Death
The Lady and Her Three Sons

Connect with Kesha

To learn more about Kesha and her work, visit http://www.talkintales.ca
Instagram
Facebook
TikTok
Walk Good podcast

Support the show

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

If you are enjoying the podcast, consider supporting the show to help us continue to make great content.

Join us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to continue the conversation.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce

We'd love to hear from you!

Caribbean Cuisine with Lesley Enston, author of Belly Full: Exploring Caribbean Cuisine Through 11 Fundamental Ingredients and Over 100 Recipes [A Cookbook]

Join Hema and Lesley as they talk about Caribbean cuisine and history through the lens of Lesley's debut cookbook Belly Full, where she delves into Caribbean food through 11 fundamental ingredients.

In this episode, Lesley shares her personal background and family stories, some of her favourite dishes, and her views on Caribbean cuisine.

She describes the cultural melting pot that is Caribbean food as the world's first fusion cuisine, and highlights the importance of documenting traditional recipes and preserving culinary heritage while embracing adaptation and innovation. 

Lesley also talks about the diverse influences on Caribbean cuisine, her process of writing the cookbook, and the nuances of different island dishes. 

Connect with Lesley on Instagram

Find her book: Belly Full: Exploring Caribbean Cuisine Through 11 Fundamental Ingredients and Over 100 Recipes [A Cookbook]

Lesley Enston, Contributor Bon Appétit

BEM Bookstore in Brooklyn, NY

Episodes referenced: Caribbean Culinary History with Keshia Sakarah

Support the show

What is moreish? | more·​ish ˈmōrish | informal, of food, causing a desire for more

If you are enjoying the podcast, consider supporting the show to help us continue to make great content.

Join us on TikTok, Instagram and YouTube to continue the conversation.

Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!) https://uppbeat.io/t/andrey-rossi/jerk-sauce