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Jamaican Ackee
11/08/09
Jamaican Ackee
Ackee,the national fruit of Jamaica is not indigenous of Jamaica. It was brought to Jamaica from West Africa in the late eighteenth century. Its name is derived from the West African Akye fufo. In most areas of the Caribbean the fruit of the ackee is not eaten. It is only in Jamaica that Ackee is popular as an edible fruit.
The fruit of the ackee grows in a pod on an evergreen tree. The pod has petals which are originally greenish in colour and bloom during warm months mainly between January to March and June to August.The pod turns from green to a bright red to yellow-orange when it ripens. It splits open to reveal three or four arilli which are white to yellow flesh with black seeds at the tips. Only the inner, fleshy yellow arils are edible, the seeds at the tips of the arils, and the pod enclosing the 3 or 4 arils are discarded.
It is very important for the ackee pods to be allowed to ripen and open naturally on the tree before picking. Consumers of the unripe fruit sometimes suffer from 'Jamaican vomiting sickness' caused by alkaloid toxins,Hypoglycins A and B,found in raw ackees and the inner red tissue of the ripe ackee arils. Prior to cooking, the ackee arils must be cleaned, washed, boiled and the water discarded. Although ackee may be poisonous when improperly prepared, it is also rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin A, zinc, and protein.
The ackee fruit is a major export product in Jamaica. The canned product is a favorite of both visitors to the island and Jamaicans residing overseas. Ackee is also enjoyed by Jamaicans at home. It can be eaten by itself or with any ‘salt thing’ as we call it. It is also a part of our National dish, Ackee and Saltfish.
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Reasons why I love my Jamaican Mom
1. My Mother taught me about ANTICIPATION.
"Just wait till we get home."
2. My Mother taught me about RECEIVING.
"You going get a ass'n when we get home!"
3. My Mother taught me to MEET A CHALLENGE.
"What di backside yu thinkin'? Answer me when me talk to you...Don't talk back to me!"
4. My Mother taught me CONSEQUENCES.
"If yu run cross de road an' cyar lick yu dung, a goin' kill yu wid lick."
5. My Mother taught me THE VALUE OF EDUCATION.
"If yu no go a school, yu a go tun tief or walk an' pick up bottle."
6. My Mother taught me MEDICAL SCIENCE.
"If yu tun over yu eye lid an fly pitch pan it, it a go stay so fi evva."
7. My Mother taught me to THINK AHEAD.
"Is not one time monkey goin' wan' wife"
8. My Mother taught me ESP.
"Yu tink a don't know what yu up to nuh?"
9. My Mother taught me HUMOR.
"If yu don' eat food, breeze goin' blow yu 'way."
10. My Mother taught me how to BECOME AN ADULT.
"Come an' tek yu beatin' like man."
11. My Mother taught me about SEX.
"Yu tink say yu drop from sky?"
12. My Mother taught me about GENETICS.
"Yu jus' like yu faada."
13. My Mother taught me about my ROOTS.
"Yu tink mi come from "Back A Wall?"
14. My Mother taught me about WISDOM OF AGE.
"When yu get to be as ol' as me, yu wi understan'."
15. And my all time favorite... JUSTICE.
"One day wen yu have pickney, a hope dem treat yu same way."
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