Jamaican Ital Food

Fashionable cities in Switzerland, such as Zurich, Basel, Interlaken and Geneva host vegetarian restaurants of the finest quality.  In Jamaica vegetarian diet had humble beginnings; brought by indentured labourers from India during the 1800s, later adopted by the Rastafari movement and known today as Ital Food.  

 `Ital’ was coined by Rastafarians from the English word ‘vital.’ The first letter in Ital refers to the ‘I and I’ a unity with all things that brings vitality, energy and life force. Rastafarians refer to this universal energy as livity, hence Ital is intended to increase livity, thereby imbuing the diet with a religious or spiritual significance.  Writer Lyndsey Kilifin explains that Ital, the diet of the Rastafari movement of Jamaica, is a vegetarian diet principally intended to improve health and energy. It is thought that being vegetarian is to be closer to the universal energy and life force and to avoid bringing death to God’s creatures. Both spiritual and healthy, Ital is a great way to give yourself a boost.https://theculturetrip.com/caribbean/jamaica/articles/an-introduction-to-jamaican-ital-food/

While there are no strict rules concerning the ital diet there are a few common principles and practices.   All food should come from the earth, natural and organic. Processed food with additives and meat are avoided, although some include fish in their dishes.  Condiments, such as salt, must be pure without additives.  Ital Food is prepared with utensils and pots made of clay and wood.  

Over the years Ital Food has grown in popularity and is widely regarded as a healthy alternative to processed foods.   So, whether eating at a rustic eatery or a five- star restaurant, you won’t have to look far to find a sumptuous Ital dish in Jamaica.  

A few restaurants to enjoy Jamaican Ital. These are just to get you started:
The Kushite Restaurant in New Kingston https://www.experiencejamaique.com/kushite%E2%80%99s-vegetable-cuisine
King David Restaurant in Kingston https://www.facebook.com/kingdaviditalrastaurant/
Jah Greenie Ital Food in Montego Bay https://fitfathers.com/vegan-food-in-montego-bay-jamaica-ital-is-vital/

Here is an easy recipe on how to cook Jamaican Ital:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ECCYigh3FmY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXxTSn_78Ms

Also visit our gallery for contemporary Jamaican/Caribbean fine art:

 https://www.experiencejamaique.com/product_gallery

Updated May 2021

Sept 2017