Yuh sweet like a sugar cane!!

Jub Jub

Have you ever been told that you have a sweet tooth? or heard 'Girl, you have Sweet Han'!

Well, you are not alone.  If you meet any Trinidadian men, you will be amazed of their natural skill set to manipulate words, on the spot, and form a joke or compliment usually to a female.  We call it 'droppin' lyrics' .  This is my list of the island's confectionery titles and possible labels associated with them..

• Jub -Jub: This is a soft gelatin brilliantly coloured candy, (coated in sugar and flavoured with Caribbean goodness) fruit chewy and has a marshmallow consistency.  The Caribbean flavours covers Passion Fruit, Lime, Caribbean Cherry, Guava, Coconut, Rum and Soursop. The slang of the Jub-jub - Yuh  sweet like a Jub-Jub.

Source: Uncommon Caribbean
Tamarind Balls

• Tamarind Balls - Tamarind  or Tambran is the a large tree that can reach up to 50ft in height. In Trinidad, it can be very sour that it cannot be consumed naturally.Fortunately, the Tamarind has health benefits for that bitter taste.  It is known to soothe stomach discomfort, fevers, improves liver function, eases sore throat and inflammation. To create the sweet treat, the flesh of the fruit and its seeds are combined with some pepper and a cup or two of sugar. Then hot water is added, a handful of flour and most of the seeds extracted. The mixture is rolled into bite size balls and coated in granulated sugar.  The result is sweet and sour treat that, 'It so sour that it can cut teeth'. 

Source: smartcooky
Sugar Cane and Sugar Cane Juice

• Sugar Cane: 'Girl, yuh sweet like sugar cane' contributes the lion-share of sugar production in the world.  As Trinidad was once a colonialised nation, our sugar cane factory, Caroni 1975 Ltd produced one of our main exports.  As a child, I got sectioned pieces of sugarcane to eat on the back step of my home.  My clothes always had an art apron over it as a juicy mess was sure to happen, and my Grand-Mother watching ever so closely over the half-door.  Bring back the ole time days.  Besides the sweet nectar from the cane, this natural phenomenon is rich in antioxidants, iron, calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and other electrolytes.  The list doesn't end there, it is also has diuretic properties, considered as an energy drink and eating the cane prevents tooth decay.  I declare to be 'sweet like sugar cane' to be a good thing..♥

Gulabjamoon

• Gulajamoon - This Indian pleasure can be purchased in Trinidad 's Little Indian Shop in Curepe and street vendors of Debe and Iere .  I'll admit that it is only within recent times that I tried this delicatessen.  Since then, I've repeatedly asked this question, 'Why did I not have these before now?'  Gulabjamoon, the Trini version, is a derivative of its Indian Papa or Bauji, simply sweeten flour and butter that is fried to perfection, then coated in sugar similar to the American doughnut.  I love it!! This dessert is best served hot and needs nothing else.!♥♥♥

• Currants Roll - Baked dessert in flaky pastry, cinnamon, sugar and currants, a staple for every local bakery. It's a good day!

Source: Like Mother, Like Daughter
Coconut Sugar Cake

• Coconut Sugar Cake - This comes in all shapes, sizes and colours such as pink, pink and white tiered and traditional all white.  This dessert is a labour of love as the coconut is cleaned and grated very finely and a boiled sugar syrup. Caution: if you decide to make it at home, be careful.  After it baked, gently cut into squares.  This confit pastime is still popular for schoolchildren today.  

Source: Caribbean Pot
Cassava Pone

• Cassava Pone - Do you like it spicy? How about sticky?  Root vegetables and Coconut add to the pone's dense pudding-like dessert with a supporting cast of other ingredients that add flavour. This cherished dessert is excellent for vegans and gluten free food lovers as it does not contain any flour nor milk.  The recipe calls for Coconut Milk, but that is derived from the flesh of the nut anyway.  The spicy variation of this is my personal favourite, as the Ginger and some pepper, gives it that little kick that works well and the addition of raisins for a sweet finish.

Well, there you have it. These are some of my sweet like sugar cane treats that made the cut.  

I would enjoy hearing your preferences on other sweet treats. 

Salud!