Mannish water is a
goat
The goat or domestic goat (''Capra hircus'') is a domesticated species of goat-antelope typically kept as livestock. It was domesticated from the wild goat (''C. aegagrus'') of Southwest Asia and Eastern Europe. The goat is a member of the a ...
soup in
Jamaican cuisine
Jamaican cuisine includes a mixture of cooking techniques, flavours and spices influenced by Amerindian, African, Irish, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Indian, Chinese and Middle Eastern people who have inhabited the island. It is also ...
. It is believed to be an
aphrodisiac
An aphrodisiac is a substance that increases sexual desire, sexual attraction, sexual pleasure, or sexual behavior. Substances range from a variety of plants, spices, foods, and synthetic chemicals. Natural aphrodisiacs like cannabis or cocai ...
and is made from various goat parts.
The soup has been sold packaged since 2006 when it competed for Best New Food Idea in a competition covered by ''
The Jamaica Observer
''Jamaica Observer'' is a daily newspaper
A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background.
Newspapers can cover a wide variety o ...
''.
[NOVIA McDONALD-WHYTE Mannish water' in a pack up for Best New Food IdeaMay 18, 2006 Jamaica Observer] The Spicy Hill Farms company is behind the product, an offering of "Jamaica's favourite party soup". The meal has been part of
Maroon celebrations for over 300 years. The pieces of goat are seasoned with local herbs and spices, and cooked along with vegetables and 'food' - yam, potato, bananas and dumplings."
Feedback indicated it was going to be as popular as Tastee
patties
A patty or burger (in British English) is a flattened, usually round, serving of ground meat and/or legumes, grains, vegetables, or meat alternatives. Patties are found in multiple cuisines throughout the world.
In British and American En ...
.
The Observer reported that mannish water is still popular at 'dead yard' functions, large stage shows and parties (to make sure one can drive home after a few drinks). The food company's factory is in the hills bordering
Manchester
Manchester () is a city in Greater Manchester, England. It had a population of 552,000 in 2021. It is bordered by the Cheshire Plain to the south, the Pennines to the north and east, and the neighbouring city of Salford to the west. The t ...
and
Trelawny parishes.
According to the ''
Rough Guide
Rough Guides Ltd is a British travel guide book and reference publisher, which has been owned by APA Publications since November 2017. In addition to publishing guidebooks, the company also provides a tailor-made trips service based on customer ...
'', mannish water is traditionally served to a groom on his wedding night. It is also discussed as a cultural feature in books about Jamaica.
The dish is mentioned in the 1974
Pluto Shervington
Pluto Shervington, also known as Pluto (born Leighton Shervington; 13 August 1950 in Kingston, Jamaica), is a reggae musician, singer, engineer and producer.
Career
Shervington began his career in the early 1970s as a member of the showband Tom ...
song, "Ram Goat Liver", which was reissued in 1976 (following the success of "Dat") and made it to No. 43 in the
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart (currently titled Official Singles Chart, with the upper section more commonly known as the Official UK Top 40) is compiled by the Official Charts Company (OCC), on behalf of the British record industry, listing the top-s ...
.
The chorus contained the lines, "Ram goat liver good fi mek mannish water... curried goat lunch put de bite in your bark".
The dish is believed to have inspired
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English Rock music, rock band formed in London in 1962. Active for six decades, they are one of the most popular and enduring bands of the album era, rock era. In the early 1960s, the Rolling Stones pioneered the g ...
with the name for their 1973 ''
Goats Head Soup
''Goats Head Soup'' is the 11th British and 13th American studio album by the English rock band the Rolling Stones. It was released on 31 August 1973 by Rolling Stones Records. Like its predecessor '' Exile on Main St.'', the band composed and ...
'' album. Some of the album was recorded during the early 1970s while the band was relocated in
Kingston, Jamaica's Dynamic Sound Studios.
Terrance Hayes
Terrance Hayes (born November 18, 1971) is an American poet and educator who has published seven poetry collections. His 2010 collection, ''Lighthead'', won the National Book Award for Poetry in 2010. In September 2014, he was one of 21 recipient ...
's poem "Capra Aegagrus Hircus" refers to the stew.
See also
*
Cow cod soup
Cow cod soup is a traditional, rustic dish in Jamaican cuisine that is considered an aphrodisiac and made with bull penis (or "cod"). It is traditionally cooked with bananas and Scotch bonnet peppers in a white rum-based broth. Cow cod is a rura ...
*
List of goat dishes
This is a list of notable goat dishes, which use goat meat as a primary ingredient. Goat meat is the meat of the domestic goat ''(Capra aegagrus hircus)''. It is often called chevon or mutton when the meat comes from adults, and cabrito, capretto ...
*
List of Jamaican dishes and foods
References
External links
Mannish water recipe and photograph
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mannish Water
Jamaican soups
Goat dishes