Jamaican jerk cuisine is a vibrant tapestry woven with cultural and culinary influences. "Jerk" refers to both the cooking method and the seasoning blend used. The cooking method involves marinating meats, traditionally chicken or pork, in a spicy and aromatic mixture called jerk seasoning. The marinated meat is then cooked slowly over a pimento wood fire, which imparts a distinct smoky flavor to the meat. Historically, jerk cooking originated with the indigenous Taino people (Arawak Indians), who used a similar method of cooking meat. When the British brought African slaves to Jamaica, runaway slaves would hide in the mountains where they met the Taino people, who were nearly wiped out by the Europeans. They adapted this cooking style, incorporating their own spices and techniques, leading to the development of jerk as we know it today.