The UK's first Jerk Festival is launching this summer.
Taking place in Hackney Wick, London, the two-day event will be held on July 25 and 26 and is expected to attract thousands of food lovers eager to enjoy authentic Jamaican cuisine, culture and some of the best jerk cooking from across the UK.
The festival is being launched by Grace Foods UK in partnership with Black Eats London.
Kimberley Lue Lim, head of marketing at Grace Foods UK, said: "Jerk is one of Jamaica's greatest culinary exports, but many people in the UK still haven't experienced authentic jerk cooking or understand the traditions behind it.
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"As the authentic Jamaican brand, we want to inspire more consumers to discover what real jerk is all about and show them how easy it is to enjoy those flavours at home."
Visitors will be able to sample dishes from top jerk vendors across the UK, all cooked using Grace's signature jerk seasonings and marinades.
Vendors will compete for the title of UK’s Best Jerk Vendor, with the winner receiving the inaugural Grace Jerk Winner Award.
Grace Foods UK plans to use the event to introduce people to Jamaican flavours and encourage home cooking with their range of jerk products, available in major supermarkets and independent retailers nationwide.
Ms Lue Lim said: "With our farming network in Jamaica where peppers are grown to produce the authentic jerk used in our Grace and Dunn's River wet jerk seasonings, we take great pride in supporting the people and communities behind this iconic flavour."
Jackson McLarty, founder of Black Eats London, said the festival is about more than just food.
He said: "Jerk is so much more than great food – it's part of Jamaica's history, identity and culture."
UK Jerk Fest aims to celebrate Jamaican culture and heritage through food, entertainment, and community.
The event will feature live DJs, cultural activations, artisan retailers, product sampling, and giveaways.
Grace Foods UK will have a large presence at the festival, with branded activations, signature cocktails using Grace mixers, influencer collaborations, and competitions.
The partnership will extend beyond the festival with cooking videos, recipes, and a Grace Recipe Competition offering fans the chance to win products.
Followers can also enter to have their own recipe featured across Grace Foods UK’s social media platforms.
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