Jamaican Jerk Seasoning

Posted On January 15, 2021 By Mirlene Last updated March 18, 2025 51 Comments

Homemade Jamaican Jerk seasoning is a preservative free, costs a fraction of buying store bought, it is made with pantry staple ingredients, and doesn’t have an artificial taste.

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If you’re looking to heat things up in the kitchen, something that’s not too salty, then this Caribbean jerk seasoning blend is just for you. It complements chicken, fish, and any kind of red meat extremely well. Not to mention, it is cost effective.

Why Make Your Own Spice Blend?

It is a good way to use spices that has been sitting for a long time.

Better than store-bought version as it is homemade.

You can omit or reduce the level of heat in this blend.

Time and time again, if I want to spice things up in the kitchen or looking for a different flavor, I would prepare this mix.

To be honest, I especially love it with Salmon. I like it really spicy, so I often double the cayenne pepper measurement.

What Is Jamaican Jerk Seasoning?

We absolutely love mixing our own spice blend. Finding the right spice blend to elevate any dish will make a world of difference in the final stage of the dish.

This homemade Caribbean Jerk seasoning blend is simply amazing and is so incredibly easy to make.

Jamaican jerk seasoning is a combination of spices that’s made with peppers, sweet spices and dried or fresh herbs. This blend will provide you with the taste of the islands right in your kitchen.

Ingredients Used In This Seasoning

This recipe has been modified due to the ingredients that are readily available in our region. For example, we substituted scotch bonnet with cayenne pepper as this is a dry blend.

Authentic jerk seasoning always includes allspice, cinnamon, thyme, and nutmeg. These are principle ingredients that go into a jerk seasoning blend.

Jerk seasoning received its name because meats are marinated with spicy ingredients and the flavors are infused in the meat though the holes that are often poked in the meat.

1 tbsp garlic powder
1 tbsp cinnamon
1 tbsp allspice
1 tbsp smoked paprika; not often used but creates an additional earthy flavor.
1 tbsp nutmeg
1 tbsp cayenne pepper
1 tbsp dried parsley
1 tbsp white pepper; black pepper will also work.
1 tbsp cumin
1 tbsp savory herb (this herb is basically dried thyme – either will work in this recipe)
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp brown sugar is used to balance out the savory flavor.

What Can I Use Jamaican Jerk Seasoning On?

You can use this seasoning in fish, vegetables, beef, chicken, goat, lamb, and in this Pasta Rasta Recipe.

To balance out the flavors, variations of sweet flavors are added, such as brown sugar.

Honey, pineapple or mango is added if you are making a wet version. During the summer, I like to prepare the wet version as it is great when grilling meat.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is jerk seasoning made of?

There are many versions when it comes to making Jerk seasoning. But authentic jerk seasoning always includes allspice, cinnamon, thyme, and nutmeg.

What flavor is Jamaican jerk?

Jamaican jerk has a Caribbean flavor and is often spicy.

Where can I buy Jamaican jerk seasoning?

You can purchase the jerk seasoning at any local grocery store or international markets.

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