Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub — Everything You Need to Know
Allspice, thyme and Scotch bonnet give our Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub its spicy, aromatic character. Inspired by Jamaican jerk, the blend works with chicken, pork, prawns and fish. This guide covers its flavour profile, uses, dosage examples and recipes to get you started.
Our dry rub is our own interpretation of that cuisine. The spices come from Kerala, India; this does not automatically mean that the salt, sugar and other ingredients come from there too.
Flavour profile and ingredients
Allspice has warm notes reminiscent of cloves, cinnamon and pepper. Thyme adds a herbal note and Scotch bonnet contributes chilli heat. The blend also contains other peppers and spices, giving it more than just heat.
Ingredients: allspice, fine sea salt, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, ginger, cayenne pepper, black pepper, chilli flakes, Scotch bonnet powder, brown sugar, cinnamon, bay leaf, nutmeg and cloves.
How spicy the dish becomes depends on the amount of rub, the other ingredients and your taste. Start modestly and adjust next time.
Allergens: check the current packaging and selected product variant for ingredients, allergens and any cross-contact information. Also check sauces, binders and other additions you use; the ingredient list alone does not guarantee that the whole dish is allergen-free or gluten-free.
What can you use Jamaican Jerk for?
Jerk is a Jamaican cooking and seasoning tradition with many variations. You can use our dry spice blend directly or combine it with separate recipe ingredients such as oil or lime juice. These additions are not part of the dry rub. Read more about the Jamaican jerk tradition.
- Chicken: thighs, wings or a whole chicken, using a cooking method suited to the chosen cut.
- Prawns: a thin, even coating; keep cooking brief and check doneness.
- Pork: ribs or shoulder, for example, using a suitable indirect cooking method.
- Fish: adjust the amount to the thickness and surface area of the portion and avoid burning the spices.
Our rubs are blended to order. View Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub or choose three flavours with the 3-Evening Pack.
Recipes with Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub
How much Jamaican Jerk rub should you use?
Follow the current product information and your recipe. Allow for the salt in the rub, other salty ingredients and your preferred heat level. One fixed amount will not suit every size or dish.
- Chicken thighs: 55–65 grams per 1.5 kilograms of meat is a starting example from this guide, not a mandatory dosage. Adjust it to the label and your taste.
- Whole chicken: adjust the amount to the weight and surface area rather than using one fixed quantity for every chicken.
- Prawns and fish: start with a thin coating spread evenly over the surface.
You can season in advance, but there is no mandatory wait of two hours, four hours or overnight. Keep raw products covered in the fridge and follow their storage and shelf-life instructions. Measure out a separate working portion of rub so the remaining supply does not come into contact with raw meat.
BBQ technique and tips
Choose the heat and method to suit the product and its thickness. Indirect cooking is a practical approach for thicker chicken pieces; you can then finish briefly over direct heat under supervision. Cook chicken to at least 74 °C in the thickest flesh without touching bone. Colour or a dark spice crust is not a reliable measure of doneness.
The blend contains brown sugar. Sugar and spices can burn over strong direct heat: watch the colour and move the food to a cooler zone if it darkens too quickly. A dark, crisp bark does not develop automatically from one ingredient.
Pimento wood is associated with jerk. Apple or cherry wood are other possible flavour choices, not a requirement for this recipe. Use only suitable smoking wood and follow your BBQ instructions. Barbecue only in a suitable outdoor location.
Order Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub
Check the selected product for its current price and pack contents. How much meat you can season with one bag depends on the dosage and dish. The rub is blended to order; shipping within the Netherlands is free.
View Jamaican Jerk BBQ Rub · Starter Pack with three bags of your choice