Hi! I’m Joy Walker and this is our story!
When I was growing up in Jamaica, our family attended a meeting every Thursday night.
When we returned home at about 9:00 p.m. We would always make a pot of tea and talk about anything and everything.
That is until my mother ordered us to bed.
As an adult my tea drinking habit didn’t change much even though, the Thursday night gatherings became less frequent.
However the pandemic started and I noticed something.
However the pandemic started and I noticed something.
On Thursday evenings we all get on Zoom from many different locations and time zones-with our cup of tea.
And we talk about anything just like we did back then.
Our children and their families have even joined in these get togethers.
However, there is an “emotional cure” that comes from having a cup of bush tea with friends and family.
And that cure is priceless.
And that made me realize something…
Jamaican Tea Shop-Our Story
If you’re Jamaican you know that there is a tea to cure every ailment.
Of course there’s generally there is not enough scientific data to back up claims.
However, recent research is supporting claims that Jamaican bush teas do have a number of benefits.
In any case I’m sure you have memories of those “cuppa tea.”
About Joy
Like many other people in the Caribbean, I had the privilege of growing up in a household with my Grandmother.
Her parents were African and European. So at an early age she exposed us to parts of those cultures-especially the foods.
So I learned to love mutton (sheep meat), crab, and afternoon tea. And I also learned about the different plants (Jamaican bush) that grew around our yard.
I learned which bush tea to drink for colds, which bush teas helps high blood pressure, and which ones are good for “wash out.”
Recently I decided to document what I learned from my Grandmother for my children.
During the process I was surprised to uncover the value of so many of the plants and weeds that we take for granted in Jamaica.
I was also surprised at how often our Grandmothers were right. That led me to start this website.
My hope is it will bring back some memories-pleasant or maybe not so pleasant- of those Jamaican bush teas we all had to endure as children.
But my biggest hope though, is that all who read our stories will learn something interesting about an important part of the Jamaican culture “Jamaican bush teas.”