A Very Culture Original - Reggae Recipes with Chef Vita

Music is one of the most versatile forms of creative expression; topics, themes and muses are always wide-ranging. Without fail, food is certainly a recurring theme in all genres of Jamaican popular music. Food is one of the most endearing, emotive, experiential aspects in the lives of people, as is music. Think about your favourite meal in the world and what eating it feels like. Does it make you feel so good that you can’t help but buss out in song? If not, it sounds like you may need to find a new favourite food.

Video Hosted by Chef Vita
Article written by Hakeem ‘Uncle’ Brian
Edited by Very Culture!
(Full Video Credits at the end of the article)

“Mi love yuh like a fresh vegetable, suh tell me if you love Tony Rebel” - “Gimme a bottle a Spirulina, an mek mi mix up di roots with medina Come off a tour and mi knee feel weak so mi go a Hope Road an go link Viva”

Jamaicans are a set of people who don’t play when it comes to two things: music and food. So it shouldn’t be a shocker that food is a staple that is steamed, simmered and steeped into the huge melting pot that is our Jamaican music.

Almost by nature, Reggae music pays homage to food and its role as a key cultural element, in songs of yesterday and today - Tony Rebel, a roots and ital man himself likens his love for his woman to his love for food, while Pupa Chronixx shares about the wonders of spirulina and how it helps him throughout his life as an artist and entertainer. Historically, Reggae music has always sunk its teeth into food whose foundation is the Earth. Plant-based. Natural.

History connects the dots between Reggae music, and Vegan living, and cooking. Reggae is the music of the Rastafari religion, culture and lifestyle, and a vegan-based diet has always been at the core of this way of life. Do you see the connection? Music and food go hand in hand, whether you’re cooking at home in your own kitchen, or celebrating and participating in any cultural or religious ritual.

Want the perfect mix of Reggae songs to cook up to? Check out our Ital Kitchen playlist on your favourite streaming platform.

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In a celebration of Reggae music, we at Very Culture! wanted to highlight the impact of this genre and Rastafari culture on food. One of our faves amongst the Very Culture! team, Chef Vita, walked us through the role that Vegan food and Reggae music play in his own life as he chopped it up in the kitchen, prepping 3 delicious vegan delights for us to try, just in time to close out Reggae Month.

A varied and balanced set of dishes, inspired by the culture; Quinoa in place of Rice, Ackee and Seaweed in the place of Saltfish, to satisfy our love for Curry is Coconut Curry Chickpeas, a touch of fresh veggies, and what would a Jamaican dish be without an appearance from some fried ripe plantains. To accompany this, Vita combines two familiar drink elements into one - Spirulina which grew in popularity due to the Chronixx song of the same name, and Irish moss, now more commonly known as Sea Moss, a traditional drink favoured by men, rumoured to increase one's ‘romantic prowess’- Vita combines both these elements into a rich Spirulina & Seamoss shake.

Ingredients for these dishes are Jamaican staples to any kitchen, such as ackee, curry, lots of coconut milk in the mix, onion, garlic and other fresh seasonings and lots of flavour! Guided carefully by his late mentor ‘Jah Vita’, being a master of flavour and being dedicated to his craft has landed Chef Vita in a unique position where he is feeding the Reggae culture, both literally and figuratively.

Healthy life, healthy living, good vibes and good energy will always pervade the genre of Reggae music, because Rastafari is the essence of Reggae. The belief that what you nourish your body with, you are. Through the vehicle of music, this belief becomes a practice as we carry out our daily lives. Enjoy, as Chef Vita, welcomes us into the kitchen with him and connects the dots between these two big parts of our culture, of what makes us, us.