How long have people jerked barbecue?
Jerk barbecue can be traced to the 1600s, when Jamaican runaway slaves preserved and cooked meat in dug-out pits and basted it with native herbs, spices, and chile peppers. The name “jerk” has uncertain origins. It is believed by some culinary experts to be derived from the Spanish word “charqui,” which means dried meat, or from the French term “charcuterie.” One legend suggests that the phrase “jerked pork” was coined because slabs of pork were literally jerked back and forth over a hot grill.
