While widely celebrated as a symbol of Jamaican street food culture, the patty's roots trace back to the Cornish pasty, introduced to Jamaica by British sailors in the 17th century. Over generations, the pastry evolved through layers of migration, colonisation, and cultural exchange. Jamaican cooks adapted the recipe with African culinary traditions, Indian spices brought by indentured labourers, and Indigenous Caribbean flavour, folding in turmeric and curry powder, cayenne pepper and the fierce kick of the scotch bonnet, native to Jamaica.

 

The result is a flaky, golden pocket of deeply seasoned meat or vegetables that tells a rich, cross-continental story of resilience, reinvention, and identity. More than just a snack, the Jamaican patty is a culinary time capsule, and today, it's found everywhere from street corners in Kingston to Caribbean bakeries and supermarkets in the UK.