Tag: ackee and saltfish

Norway and Jamaica may seem like an unlikely culinary pair—one a warm, tropical island in the Caribbean, the other a cold, fjord-laced Nordic country. However, our countries have shared a strong bond for centuries, tied together by one key ingredient: saltfish, also known as salted cod. What began as a colonial-era trade has evolved into a rich cultural and culinary tradition, with Norwegian saltfish playing a foundational role in some of Jamaica’s most beloved dishes, including the Jamaican National Dish of ackee and saltfish. Last year, I was invited to a media event which celebrated our tasteful exchange and highlighted seafood from Norway in a grand way at the Rok Hotel in Downtown Kingston. Here’s a brief recap of the event and the story of how seafood from Norway became half of Jamaica’s national dish.