The British Virgin Islands (BVI) are part of the Virgin Islands archipelago (the remainder of islands are the US Virgin Islands), located just to the east of Puerto Rico. There are four main islands, and dozens of small islands that make up this nation, which is a British overseas territory.
The original inhabitants of the BVI were, as in most of the Caribbean, the Arawak Amerindians. Christopher Columbus arrived just before the 16th century, and the Spanish claimed them shortly afterward. Between that time and 1672, the islands were under Spanish, French, Dutch, English, and Danish control; in 1672 the English obtained control.
As you would expect, the BVI are tropical, hilly islands. The climate is ideal for growing a variety of fruits and vegetables (like passion fruits, mangoes, bananas, plantains, papayas, pineapples, coconuts, gooseberries, avocadoes, yams, okra, and callaloo), and paired with fresh seafood or meat (goat and chicken are most popular) the locals create some pretty tasty meals!
The cuisine is not only determined by the types of food available, but by the culture of the BVI. The majority of islanders are of African descent, as the British brought slaves there to work on the plantations, so the African influence is pronounced. There is also a European (primarily English, French, and Danish), Indian, Middle Eastern influence in addition to the strong Caribbean vibes felt/seen there. Mix all of these cultures together, and you have British Virgin Islander cuisine!
Dishes in the BVI are quite typical of the Caribbean; peas and rice, Johnny cakes, fish soup, goat head soup, jerk chicken, and fried fish are just a few regular meals. There are a lot of soups, usually heavily spiced, and they’re often served with dumplings. Fruit-based drinks and herbal tea are the norm in the BVI, along with local rums and beer.
Coming up on Wednesday, I’ve got the Recipe of the Week, so stay tuned for a tasty island treat! Have you ever been to the British Virgin Islands? What was your favourite dish? Do tell!
* Today’s photo is by superde1uxe on Flickr. Check out the full photostream here!