Jackass Corn: A Sweet Jamaican Treat with a Sour Name
NO PLACE names things more colorfully than the Caribbean. This is especially true of the various food/drink treats widely enjoyed throughout our islands. Remember our long-ago posts about Cock Soup and Naked Boy? Well today, we’re trying something new (at least to me) with yet another uncommon name. I’m talking about Jackass Corn.
Okay, the first thing to know about Jackass Corn is that it’s really a Jamaican thing. (At least that’s what I’ve been told.)
The second thing to know is that eating this stuff won’t make you act like a jackass, per se.
What is Jackass Corn?
Jackass Corn (aka: Donkey Corn or Donkey Jawbone) is a hard and crunchy biscuit that’s all kinds of sweet. Ingredients include a collection of basic Caribbean kitchen staples. Flour, coconut, sugar, water, nutmeg, salt, vanilla, ginger – that’s it. Combined into a dough, rolled thin, cut into rectangles, and baked, these biscuits make a crisp little treat.
If you’re thinking that nothing about this description remotely hints at any connection to donkeys, well…you’re right.
So, what is it that puts the jackass in this Jamaican snack?
Where Jackass Corn Gets Its Name
The precise name origin is, of course, up for debate. Many agree, though, that Jackass Corn gets its name from the sound you make when eating it. These treats are tough in texture. As such, you tend to have to chomp your way through a mouthful. The sound you make in the process, some argue, is akin to that of a donkey eating corn.
So yeah, eating these treats doesn’t make you into a jackass, but it does make you sound like one.
Where To Get a Taste of Jackass Corn
Like most beloved Jamaica treats, Jackass Corn is widely available at West Indian grocery stores across the USA. If you’re in the South Florida area, Bedessee is the best.
You can also order a supply online here.
If you’d rather try your hand at mixing up a batch of your own biscuits, here’s a recipe that I intend to try soon. Stay tuned for a follow up post to see how mine turned out!
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