Jamaican Sea Kitten Punch
Jamaican Sea Kitten Punch
This drink is (very) loosely based on Jamaica's infamous "Sea Cat Punch," a blended frozen drink that contains—wait for it—octopus! ("Sea Cat" is Jamaican slang for "octopus.") While our Jamaican Sea Kitten Punch lacks tentacles, ink, and all other parts of the octopus, it bursts with the flavor of delicious tropical fruit!
Happy & Healthy Cooking,
Fun-Da-Mentals Kitchen Skills
- blend :
to stir together two or more ingredients until just combined; blending is a gentler process than mixing.
- combine :
to merge two or more ingredients into one mixture, like a batter of flour, eggs, and milk.
- measure :
to calculate the specific amount of an ingredient required using a measuring tool (like measuring cups or spoons).
Equipment Checklist
- Blender (or pitcher + immersion blender)
- Cutting board + kid-safe knife
- Liquid measuring cup
Ingredients
Jamaican Sea Kitten Punch
- 2 C frozen pineapple
- 1 C frozen cherries
- 1 to 2 C cold water
- 1 pinch granulated or brown sugar
Instructions
Jamaican Sea Kitten Punch
Intro
Jamaica's infamous "Sea Cat Punch," is a blended frozen drink that contains—wait for it—octopus! ("Sea Cat" is Jamaican slang for "octopus."). Thankfully we will use delicious cherries and pineapples for our "Jamaican Sea Kitten Punch" instead!
chop + combine
The first step for this simple and delicious drink is to roughly chop 2 cups of frozen pineapple and 1 cup of frozen cherries and combine them in a blender. Chopping the fruit will help make the drink smooth.
measure + blend
Then, measure and add 1 cup of cold water and 1 pinch of sugar. Start blending the mixture until smooth and creamy. If it’s too chunky, add another 1 cup of cold water and blend a bit more.
adjust + pour + enjoy
Taste the drink and adjust the consistency with more water, then adjust the flavor with a bit more sugar, if needed. Pour and enjoy!
Hi! I’m Pineapple!
"When you see me, you can't help but think of a tropical paradise! I'm Pineapple, possibly the queen of tropical flavors—I even wear a crown! Of leaves, that is. Try slicing me and making a pineapple upside-down cake, or grill me to serve with pork or seafood. Also, I pair well with another tropical favorite, Coconut, in salads, desserts, and drinks!"
History & Etymology
- Pineapple is one of the world's favorite tropical fruits. The wild pineapple plant is native to South America, originating in a river drainage area between southern Brazil and Paraguay. There is evidence that indigenous people cultivated and used it in Peru as early as 1200 to 800 BCE. The Aztecs and Mayas grew it in Mexico sometime between 200 BCE and 700 CE.
- Spanish and Portuguese explorers eventually discovered pineapple and introduced it to European and other countries in the east. In 1493, during Columbus' exploration of the Caribbean Islands, he came across pineapples growing on the island of Guadalupe.
- The Spanish may have introduced the pineapple to Hawaii. Today, one-third of the world's pineapple comes from Hawaii.
- The botanical name for pineapple is "Ananas comosus." It was called "ananas" by an indigenous South American people. European explorers may have called it pineapple because of its resemblance to the pine cone. The English word "pineapple" was first written down in the 17th century. Several languages still have the word "ananas" for pineapple.
Anatomy
- Pineapples are the only edible members of the bromeliad family of plants.
- The pineapple is not a single fruit but a multiple or collective fruit, with a cluster of 100 to 200 tiny fruitlets or berries.
- A pineapple plant produces only one pineapple. The fruit grows slowly and can take up to two years to reach full size.
- Unripe pineapples are incredibly sour and can be quite toxic. Pineapples do not ripen after harvesting, but they might turn more yellow if they were green.
- You can grow a pineapple at home! If you want to give it a try, twist off the crown of a store-bought pineapple, allow it to dry for a few days, and then plant it.
How to Pick, Buy, & Eat
- Bromelain, an enzyme in pineapples, breaks down proteins, which means you can use pineapple or pineapple juice as a meat tenderizer. For this reason, you can't add fresh pineapple to jelly or jello because it will break down the gelatin. To prevent this, you can boil pineapple chunks in their juice or use canned pineapple, which was heated during the canning process.
- If you find yourself on a sailing trip in the tropics without any powdered cleanser, you could use pineapple juice mixed with sand instead.
Nutrition
- Pineapples are good for you! They are an excellent source of vitamin C, which aids the body's immune system and wound healing, and manganese, which assists with bone formation and nutrient metabolism. In addition, the pineapple's natural enzymes help you digest all of your food!
Let's Learn About Jamaica!
- Jamaica is an island nation in the Caribbean, just south of Cuba and West of Haiti. The capital and largest city is Kingston.
- Jamaica is 4,244 square miles in size, and its population in 2018 was over 2.7 million. That is a little smaller than the state of Connecticut with about 1 million less people.
- The currency is the Jamaican dollar. The official language is English, but Jamaica's primary and de facto national language is Jamaican Patois (PATwa), an English-based creole.
- Spain claimed Jamaica after Spanish explorers landed in 1494; however, in 1655, it became an English colony before gaining its independence in 1962.
- The original inhabitants of Jamaica were the Arawak people. The Arawak grew corn and yams. Today, none of the crops grown in Jamaica are native to the island, including sugar cane, bananas, and mangoes. Bamboo, coconut palms, and breadfruit were also imported to the island.
- Jamaica's climate is tropical. It can be hot and humid and prone to damage caused by hurricanes.
- The Blue Mountain range is the longest in Jamaica, and Blue Mountain Peak, at 7,402 feet, is the highest spot on the island.
- Jamaica has eight native snake species, but none are venomous.
- In Jamaica, as in England, they drive on the left-hand side of the road.
- Reggae music originated in Jamaica, home of well-known musician Bob Marley.
- Over one million tourists visit Jamaica every year.
- Jamaica produces many talented athletes, especially in track and field, where runners Usain Bolt, Johan Blake, and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have excelled.
- In 1988, Jamaica became the first tropical country to enter a Winter Olympic event. It was the four-man bobsled event.
- The biggest and the tiniest butterflies found in the New World are in Jamaica: the Homerus Swallowtail and the Pygmy Blue.
- Pimento trees, which grow in Jamaica, produce allspice. The name "allspice" originated from the popular notion that the pimento berry contains the characteristic flavor and aroma of cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, and pepper, all combined in one spice. Jamaican allspice is of the highest quality, and the country is the largest allspice exporter worldwide.
- Jamaican cuisine uses a local spice mixture that has become famous, Jamaican jerk spice. It includes ground allspice and Scotch bonnet chili peppers. You can use it as a spice rub or in a marinade for meat, especially chicken or pork. Like many Caribbean countries, the cuisines of several countries influenced Jamaican foods over the years, such as African, Spanish, Portuguese, Cornish, Chinese, and East Indian.
What's It Like to Be a Kid in Jamaica?
- Kids go to school from 8 am to 2 or 2:30 pm. School is taught in English in Jamaican schools. After six years of primary school (grades 1-6), students go on to Lower School (junior high) for three years and then to Upper School (senior high) for three years. Uniforms are the required dress code.
- Jamaican kids participate in sports like football (soccer), track and field, cricket, tennis, netball, and basketball. They may play a game called "Dandy Shandy" that is similar to dodgeball. "Bull Inna Pen" is a game with children playing the parts of the bull, the mother hen, or the chicks she protects from the bull.
- Kids may eat "ackee and saltfish" (fruit and codfish) for breakfast, along with boiled green bananas and fried dumplings. Ackee is the national fruit used more like a starch or veggie, and "ackee and saltfish" is considered the Jamaican national dish.
- At Christmastime, due to British influence, families may serve "black cake" or Christmas pudding. Other popular treats are the Jamaican spiced bun; "gizzada," a tart filled with sweet, spicy coconut; "coconut drops," a toffee-like sweet made with coconut chunks and sugar; and a coconut and ginger candy called "busta."