Caribbean Jerk Rub

Caribbean Jerk Rub with fire and thyme

The Caribbean Jerk Rub from Cape Herb & Spice is a Caribbean jerk spice blend with chili, thyme, allspice, and cinnamon, made for chicken, pork, and grilled vegetables. Not a mild seasoning, but a fiery spice blend with a real chili kick.

Caribbean Jerk Rub is the fiery jerk seasoning from Cape Herb & Spice in Cape Town, made for jerk chicken, pork, and grilled vegetables. It brings the aroma of Jamaican street food to your grill—spicy, savory, with warm notes of cinnamon and allspice. There’s a bit of the Caribbean in every spoonful, sunshine included.

The base is 30 percent sea salt, complemented by onions, 17 percent chili, brown sugar, 8 percent thyme, cinnamon, allspice, black pepper, and cayenne. This is the classic jerk concept, hot and aromatic at the same time, just as it originated over open fires in Jamaica. The scent alone is a small journey: first thyme and allspice, then the warmth of cinnamon, and finally the fire of the chili. A rub that is serious about heat.

Spicy, savory, with warm cinnamon

Fiery, savory, aromatic—that’s how the rub coats the meat and sears into a dark crust on the grill.

First comes the bold chili heat, then thyme and allspice add their herbal warmth, and finally a hint of cinnamon rounds it all off. The cayenne pushes the heat even further; this is not for the faint of heart. Sweet, savory, fiery—every bite remains exciting. If you love fire, you’ve found your new favorite.

Despite all the heat, the flavor profile remains complex: sweet from the brown sugar, earthy from the thyme, warm from the cinnamon. Exactly this interplay is what makes true jerk.

How to season your Jerk Chicken

Rub chicken or pork with a little olive oil, season generously with the rub, and let it marinate—the longer, the deeper the aroma.

On the grill, in the smoker, or in the pan, this creates a savory, spicy crust—classic for jerk chicken, but also for pork neck or hearty grilled vegetables. A squeeze of lime at the end provides the Caribbean freshness that belongs with the fire. In a yogurt marinade mix, the heat becomes noticeably smoother. If you like, add a bit of garlic and lime juice, and you have a genuine jerk marinade.

If you prefer smoky over spicy, take a look at the Smokehouse BBQ Rub; if you prefer something zesty from Portugal, check out the Portuguese Peri Peri Rub.

Cape Herb & Spice from Cape Town since 1994

Behind the rub is Cape Herb & Spice, a spice manufacturer from Cape Town, founded in 1994 by Irene Ivy.

What Irene began over 30 years ago from a small market cart at the V&A Waterfront now supplies kitchens around the globe, with over 600 employees behind it. Cape Town is located on the old spice route, and you can taste that passion for seasoning in every pinch. Just as Irene intended, innovation, taste, and quality remain the top priority today, without any irradiated spices. Impressive.

Browse through more spices from Cape Herb & Spice or our BBQ spices for your next grill night.

A Caribbean evening with yogurt and mango

Start with a small amount and ease your way into the heat; you can always add more. A dollop of yogurt or a slice of mango on the side friendly tempers the fire. In a bowl with rice, beans, and mango, it turns into a little island meal. Jerk chicken brings good vibes and music right to the table. Fire away.