A no hebri-ting we se Jumiekan pan ii a Jumeikan (Just because it says Jamaican, doesn't mean it's truly Jamaican)

It is to much dismay that I must post this. Because of our popularity amongst the food and cultural sectors, franchised businesses often try to make a buck off of our genuine commodities. Whether it's something like "Jamaican-style" seasonings or foods found in the "ethnic" or "international" section of a popular supermarket or a "Jafakan" (Fake Jamaican) restaurant, non-Jamaicans can be misled into thinking that their purchases or dining experiences are legit. This is somewhat a touchy subject for me because I've seen it so many times. Americans, wanting to have an authentic experience, naively spend money on over-processed, fake products, resulting in them being turned off by the experience. So here's what I going to do. I'm going to give you some guidelines on how to find authentic Jamaican products and how to stay clear from the impostors. Please note that these guidelines are strictly my opinion and may vary depending on your location so please take it with a grain of salt (don't take it as law).

1. If it says "Jamaican-Style" on it, chances are it's not authentic.
2. If it says "Made in _______" as in anywhere outside of Jamaica, chances are it's not authentic.
3. If you go to a "Jamaican" restaurant and the food is bland, the drink selections are more popular with an American crowd, the ambiance is lacking in the Jamaican factor, and you see mostly Americans there, chances are it's Jafakan.
4. If you go to a restaurant and you can smell the food cooking from the parking lot, big chuun a play (pop reggae music playing), a bunch of men playing dominoes in a corner and slamming their chips down on the table, pictures or sculptures of lions and Bob Marley are displayed, the drink selections such as Irish Moss and Juneplum juice are sold and if the ambience and customer service is a bit sketchy by American standards, it's 100% Jamaican!

Please bear this in mind. Many Jamaican establishments suffer as a result of not having easy access to authentic products. They do the best they can based on the availability of these products so we can't be too hard on them. However, there are techniques of cooking that should not be lost just based on convenience. One can still get onions, garlic, and other aromatics to cook and present to consumers. DON'T GET LAZY! Show non-Jamaicans what makes us who we are without being prideful and obnoxious, of course. Teach others about our culture and give them a great experience.

That's my vent for the day. Blessings.