no place A name for something more colorful than the Caribbean. This is especially true for the variety of food/drinks that are widely enjoyed on our island. Remember our post from a long time ago? rooster soup and naked boy? Today we’re trying something new (at least to me) with another unusual name. I’m talking about donkey corn.
Well, the first thing to know about Jackass Corn is that it is indeed a Jamaican thing. (At least that’s what I’m told.)
The second thing to know is that eating these things in and of itself does not make you act like a fool.
What is donkey corn?
Jackass Corn (aka: Donkey Corn or Donkey Jawbone) is a hard, crunchy cookie with a variety of sweet flavors. Ingredients include a range of basic Caribbean kitchen staples. Flour, coconut, sugar, water, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, ginger – that’s it. These cookies are mixed into a dough, rolled out thinly, cut into rectangles, and baked to create crispy little treats.
If you’re thinking that nothing in this description remotely suggests any connection to donkeys, well… you’d be right.
So what makes this Jamaican snack contain donkey meat?
Where did Jackass Corn get its name?
Of course, the exact origin of the name is up for debate. However, many agree that Jackass Corn gets its name from the sound it makes when you eat it. These snacks have a firm texture. So you often have to chew a bite. Some believe the sound you make during this process is similar to the sound a donkey makes eating corn.
So, yes, eating these foods doesn’t make you a moron, but it does make you sound like one.
Where to taste donkey corn
Like the most popular Jamaican delicacy, Jackass Corn can be found in West Indian grocery stores across the United States. If you are in the South Florida area, Bedse is the best.
You can also order supplies online here.
If you’d like to try your hand at mixing up a batch of your own cookies, This is a recipe I plan to try soon. Stay tuned for future posts to see how I turn out!