Most of the herbs used in Caribbean cooking are not foreign to traditional American cooking. Some think of herbs as fresh green plants. In fact they are, but the products made from them are classified as herbs or spices. So while we talk about herbs, you can think further than parsley and fennel. Caribbean cooks enjoy the use of herbs and spices since every island in the Caribbean has its own style of cooking, using different herbs in different combinations.

The major herbs used as seasonings in the Caribbean are nutmeg, allspice, ginger, black and white pepper, ground mustard, cinnamon, cloves, mace, sweet basil, mint, curry, thyme, spicy peppers, and of course don't forget the scallions and garlic. Traditional American cooking uses allspice cloves and cinnamon in sweet dishes and desserts. In the Caribbean they are used many different ways.

The Bahamas are famous for conch recipes. Conch is the meat from the big shells that we listen into to hear the ocean. Cuba is famous for their black beans and rice dishes. Jerk cooking is a Jamaican style of marinading meat using allspice. Puerto Rico is known for its chicken and rice dishes and a peppery sauce known as sofrito. Trinidad is known for curried dishes, and the French Caribbean Islands for French creole cooking. The Cayman Islands have a recipe for a chocolate cake that has spicy peppers in it. All of these islands use the many herbs to season their dishes and to give them the very distinct flavors of their own island. If you are dieting, use the herbs and spices the Caribbean Islanders to give your food more interesting and different tastes.