In honour of #PattyWeek which began on Monday of this week (Emancipation Day), we decided to highlight some of the reasons that have made the Jamaican patty an essential part of our nation’s diet, and the go-to snack for so many.

1.      There are a variety of these hand-sized crusted delights. It is obvious that the most popular consumed type of patty in Jamaica is the beef patty, however, there are many other varieties such as cheese (which contains beef and cheese), chicken, jerk, and fish. One of the franchises that sell these local commodities is Mother’s and they have introduced a whole new competition by launching the pork patty last year and more recently the ‘curry goat’ patty. Patties are loved by Jamaicans simply because there is one for everybody, including vegetarians, who have the veggie patty to munch on.

2.      Why would they be loved if they didn’t taste great? Hot, steamy and delicious, patties are perhaps the number one go-to-food on the island. But in addition to tasting great, they are available all over. With different franchises such as Tastee, Mother’s and the affectionately called ‘Juici Beef’ in various parishes across the island, patties are extremely easy to access.

3.      So we already went through that they taste great, have many varieties, are easy to access. But they’re also cheap?!  It doesn’t get much better than that. While patties have gone up recently, it is still a relatively cheap snack for something so filling. Jamaicans are known to be extreme penny-pinchers and if it costs a lot then expect us to be extremely reluctant to even consider buying it. 

4.      As we mentioned just now, patties are filling and even more so when you pair them with a ‘coco bread’.

5.      Lastly, patties can be eaten at anytime and anywhere. They are suitable for any function and are great for all ages. Patties are also fit for small functions and birthday/office parties. We even know of some students who are able to fit them in their tunic pockets. We’re not encouraging them, because that’s how you get ants, but it’s not cumbersome is what we’re saying, easy to carry around.