One of the first dishes any visitor to the island wants to try is jerk chicken.

Almost every hotel and restaurant on the island that serves traditional Jamaican food has at least one jerk item on the menu, from chicken and pork to lobster, fish, and shrimp.

In supermarkets both in Jamaica and in other countries, at least half an aisle is dedicated to different brands of jerk sauce.

The trick then is to find which one? What is ‘authentic jerk seasoning’?

Whether you're packing a 'to-go' bag to take home after your Jamaican vacation experience or you're searching in your hometown at the local Jamaican store, here's a checklist to help you find authentic Jamaican jerk seasoning.

The origins of Jamaican jerk

Traced back to the original native tribes who lived on the island before the colonists arrived, jerk is linked to what is more traditionally known as jerky, and heavily linked to the methodology of cooking, not just the spices used.

A good jerk marinade sauce however can give the impression of meat cooked over strips of pimento wood (considered the traditional way of cooking the meat).

Authentic jerk seasoning: What to look for on the label

There are some bottled jerk sauces with brand names that are established as specialists, while others are one product in a line of food products.

While all have the main ingredients of pimento and scotch bonnet peppers, like an Italian grandmother and her marinara sauce, everyone who makes jerk food has their own ‘secret sauce’.

Authentic Jamaican jerk seasoning is an evenly proportioned blend of powdered onion and garlic, smoked spices such as paprika and cumin, scotch bonnet peppers, and cayenne pepper for the heat.

You'll also find basic ingredients such as salt, black pepper, and sugar in authentic Jamaican jerk seasoning.

Brands like Walkerswood specialize in the marinade and it is at a comfortable price point for most people. Other specialty brands can be spotted in high-end supermarkets and coffee shops.

When outside of Jamaica, many brands are also available but it's best to stick with tried and true brands like Grace and Eve which the diaspora swear by.

If you really want an authentic jerk sauce to have the perfect Jamaican meal at home, why not try your hand at making your own?

After all, you now know the key ingredients!

With a few trials, you may soon find yourself saying “I’ll never tell” when your dinner guests ask, "what’s your secret for your amazingly authentic Jamaican jerk sauce?"