History
of the term "jerk", and were not talking about the movie!
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phrase "jerk" is alleged to have come from the word charqui,
a Spanish term for jerked or dried meat, which, over time,
became jerky in English. Some historians say the origin of
Jerk is linked to the jerking or poking of the meat with a
sharp object, producing holes which were then filled with a
spice mixture dominated by the famous "scotch
bonnet peppers". Jerk pork has it origins in Jamaica going
way back to the Maroons in the 1600's. Still, other historians
say that the Maroons learned to "jerk" pork from the scant few
descendants of the original Carib-Arawak Indians who inhabited
Jamaica at the time of Columbus arrival.
"After capturing an
animal and thoroughly cleaning and gutting it, the Indians
placed it in a deep pit lined with stones and covered with
green wood, which, when burned, would smoke heavily and add to
the flavor. But first, the carcass was "jerked" with a sharp
object to make holes, which were stuffed with a variety of
spices. The holes also allowed heat to escape without loss of
moisture. The results were superb. The meat was not only
wonderfully spiced, but moist and tender". |
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