Experience a more rural side to Jamaica and taste the abundance of local produce grown in the country on this afternoon tour of a family-owned farm. You’ll discover more about the culture and way of life beyond Jamaica’s cities and towns while also having the opportunity to dine on a seven-course plant-based menu, prepared using ingredients from the farm.
Your hosts, Lisa and Chris, will welcome you to their home in the hills of Saint Ann and Chris will lead you on a walking tour of Zionites Farm. He’ll talk about the different plants and their traditional uses, and you can see, smell and taste some of the organic produce grown here, from herbs and spices to fruits and flowers. You’ll then sit out on the terrace for a lunch that makes the simplest ingredients shine.
You’ll be picked up from your hotel in Ocho Rios or Montego Bay in the early afternoon and driven out into the green hills of Saint Ann for a ‘stush in the bush’ experience (stush means fancy in Jamaica). You can visit as part of a small group or have the option to do this tour privately.
On arrival at Zionites Farm, Lisa and Chris will greet you warmly before you head off to explore the grounds. The temperatures are cooler up in the hills, making for a comfortable walk as Chris shows you his wide variety of plants, vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers. You can awaken your senses through tasting and smelling the ingredients grown on this certified-organic farm, all while taking in views of the north coast and surrounding hills.
As you wander the grounds, Chris will talk about the various uses of each plant, some of which have traditionally been used for medicine. He’ll also describe what life is like in the Jamaican countryside, where the pace is slow and people have a real connection to the earth.
You’ll then return to the house to sit on the covered terrace, where you can sip fresh juices and enjoy some appetizers before your seven-course plant-based lunch. Each dish highlights the local, seasonal produce you’ll have seen on your wander through the grounds, combining simple ingredients and tastes with artful presentation and a variety of textures.
After relishing each bite and taking time to relax among your peaceful surroundings, you’ll be returned to your hotel in the early evening.