5 Foods in Antigua that Will Exceed Your Expectations

Who wouldn’t love a vacation in the Caribbean? Every island located in this sea is a dream come true to visit, and Antigua is no exception. It’s one of the two main islands of Antigua and Barbuda, which often attracts visitors with its traditional and vibrant cuisine.

When you’re on a vacation at an unknown place, especially around the sea, it can be hard to decide what to try first. Surely, in Antigua, you will have a lot of seafood choices, but besides, there’s so much more to discover. 

In this article, we will talk about 5 of the foods in Antigua that can definitely surprise your taste buds.

1. Roti

Although Roti is a dish commonly found in Antiguian cuisine, it actually originated in India. As a lot of indian people started to live on this island, they brought their own delicious food culture. It became so popular in Antigua that the tourists often compare where they liked it more: Antigua or India. Some people joke that they weigh their choices like sports fans checking Betwhale – NBA betting odds before a big game. 

Roti in Antigua is a flatbread that’s filled with seasoned meat and vegetables. There are different versions, including ones with chicken, pork, beef, seafood, and even a vegetarian option, so if you are a vegetarian, you will not be disappointed. The filling is usually cooked in a curry sauce, which gives the dish its main taste, as well as an Indian essence. It is usually eaten for lunch or as a snack.

2. Johnny Cakes

Johnny cakes are Antiguian flatbreads, and they are a dish that you will find in almost every Caribbean menu. They are very similar to regular bread, except you can put different kinds of fillings inside and eat them like sandwiches. Tourists often say they are like upgraded Fritos, considering the dough is prepared almost the same way.

The recipe for the dough includes cornmeal, sugar, and salt, plus milk or water. Inside, you will find cheese and saltfish, or chicken instead of saltfish. They are often devoured for breakfast or as a side dish for a light lunch. Either way, this soft-textured bread might surprise you.

3. Fudge

Fudge is something you can not miss out on at any chance. You might find this filling in a lot of types of candy with nuts, but as a separate snack, the version of Caribbean countries really stands out. It is most likely every local person’s favourite sweet snack and not surprisingly, tourists often fall in love with it as well. 

Fudge is very easy to make as it requires only sugar, butter, and milk. The special part about the one from Antigua is that it’s made with almond milk, which takes the fudge to a whole different level. The flavors usually include pineapple, tamarind, and ponche kuba.

4. Antigua Black Pineapple

In Antigua, you will find a very special pineapple species, which is called the Antiguan Black. It is known to be the sweetest pineapple in the whole world, and sometimes foreigners come here only to try this fruit.

It is not easy to figure out if the pineapple is fully ripe or not, as it still has some green coloring, despite its growing stage. However, you can always find a kind local to ask to try it fresh, or you can order it at a restaurant as a sweet snack. 

5. Shawarma

You might think this is a Mexican burrito, but Shawarma has its own story in Antigua. Even though it’s a wrap stuffed with a lot of meat and certain vegetables, it is still completely different from a burrito. This dish was spread in Antigua by people from Syria and Lebanon who migrated here and became an integral part of the local cuisine.

In Antigua, Shawarma is usually cooked using pita bread. Inside, it is filled with either beef, pork, or chicken with the addition of lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, and cabbage. The meat is seasoned with salt, garlic powder, paprika, turmeric, and cumin.

Bottom Line

Despite how much of a fairytale your Caribbean vacation might seem, everyone can agree that the right kind of local food always makes it better. As you see, there are various traditional local dishes you can try in Antigua, and they seem pretty extraordinary and exquisite. So if you’re traveling to this island and you doubt which food to choose to eat, these 5 options are definitely the right options and will not disappoint your taste buds.