Jamaican Irish Moss drink - in can and over ice

Irish moss (or sea moss) is a Jamaican beverage in which the main ingredient is the marine red algae ''Gracilaria'' spp. (itself one of several commonly referred by the name of "Irish moss", purportedly introduced to the island's coast by Irish immigrant laborers), boiled in milk with sugar or honey and various spices added such as vanilla,

cinnamon Cinnamon is a spice obtained from the inner bark of several tree species from the genus ''Cinnamomum''. Cinnamon is used mainly as an aromatic condiment and flavouring additive in a wide variety of cuisines, sweet and savoury dishes, breakfa ...

, and nutmeg. Depending on the recipe, other ingredients may include sweetened condensed milk and additional thickening agents such as gum arabic or isinglass (fish gelatin), as well as ingredients like rolled oats or

linseed oil Linseed oil, also known as flaxseed oil or flax oil (in its edible form), is a colourless to yellowish oil obtained from the dried, ripened seeds of the flax plant (''Linum usitatissimum''). The oil is obtained by pressing, sometimes followed by ...

to add extra fat content. A peanut-flavored version is also widely available, which is based upon another drink popular in Jamaica,

peanut punch Peanut punch is a beverage that is popular in the Caribbean. The main ingredients of the drink include peanuts/ peanut butter, milk and sugar. However, variations occur whereby regular milk is often replaced or added to a mixture including cond ...

. Carrageenan in the cell walls of the seaweed gives the drink a distinctive thick consistency and rich mouthfeel. The Irish moss drink has traditionally been homemade and sold at roadside "punch man" stalls alongside peanut punch and other refreshing drinks, but mass-produced commercial canned versions are now common as well. Irish moss has various health properties and is high in calories and rich in protein, making it a favorite among athletes and bodybuilders. It is reputed to cure digestive problems like ulcers and a tonic for mood disorders. The drink is widely marketed as an aphrodisiac for men. It is often available at bars in Jamaica as a mixer for rum, whiskey or even

Guinness Guinness () is an Irish dry stout that originated in the brewery of Arthur Guinness at St. James's Gate, Dublin, Ireland, in 1759. It is one of the most successful alcohol brands worldwide, brewed in almost 50 countries, and available in ove ...

stout.

References

Jamaican cuisine Non-alcoholic drinks {{Jamaica-cuisine-stub

See also

References