You've heard of jerk chicken, jerk pork, but now Jamie Oliver has caused a storm with jerk rice.
The rice is a convenience meal that you're meant to put into the microwave for one minute and then it's ready to serve.
Jerk is a Carribean style of seasoning chicken, pork, beef and even fish, but it's unheard of to "jerk rice"
The term usually refers to chicken, beef or meat that is prepared in a traditional Jamaican style of cooking. A marinade or paste that includes at the very least pimento (allspice) and scotch bonnet peppers, also known as habenero's are key ingredients in the marinade process.
The twitter storm about the rice heated up last week when British Labour MP Dawn Butler raised her concerns with Oliver about a jerk rice.
#jamieoliver @jamieoliver #jerk I'm just wondering do you know what #Jamaican #jerk actually is? It's not just a word you put before stuff to sell products. @levirootsmusic should do a masterclass. Your jerk Rice is not ok. This appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop.
— (((Dawn Butler MP))) (@DawnButlerBrent) August 18, 2018
As Butler's tweet went viral, jerk rice became a hot topic and was then debated on the morning TV show, Good Morning Britain and further on social media
Everyone is kicking off over Jamie Oliver’s ‘jerk rice’ https://t.co/D32lpyJsYm
— Metro (@MetroUK) August 20, 2018
Whats this “jerk rice” you’ve been banging on about @jamieoliver- how do you even jerk rice 🤷🏾♂️ .... we don’t want or need any of your help thanks. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday 👍🏾
— knighty (@LeonKnight_) August 18, 2018
Accusations that Oliver is culturally appropriating rice hasn't died down
. @White_Yardie Pls stop this #jerkrice #wtf #foolishness @jamieoliver Make a pubic apology and recall this back. pic.twitter.com/OloW5Gtc4n @levirootsmusic @Rustie_Lee @StyleONMW @theresadroberts @bignarstie @alexberesfordTV #foodfraud
— Caribbean Cooking (@CaribCookSchool) August 20, 2018
The general white reaction to Jamie Oliver’s #JerkRice is why I don’t bother getting into conversation with white people about race anymore. How can a people tell you “you have disrespected us in this way” and your instant response is “I’m offended that you’re offended!”. Like???
— Bibbi (@b2mindful) August 20, 2018
As a fellow Jamaican, jerk rice does NOT, has NEVER and SHOULD NEVER exist. It's an insult to Jamaicans. We don't joke with our food! It has a deep rooted history and intertwines with our national pride and identity.
— Gina x (@EmpresssGina) August 19, 2018