Today I begin the build-up for the holiday season courtesy of Tru-Juice who partnered with me to create exclusive recipes for our loyal Thursday Food readers. Our American cousins are celebrating their Thanksgiving today, and many Jamaicans who reside in that great land are very much in the mix. Likewise, American expats who live on our beloved island will be in celebratory mode this evening.

Most Jamaicans look forward to Christmas. It’s a time of good cheer and good food. In several corporate offices, banks, supermarkets and other public spaces across the island, Christmas decorations are being put up. The evenings have become chilly and we know the Christmas breeze will soon arrive. This season, Tru-Juice is promoting three beverages which evoke the holiday spirit. What is Thanksgiving without cranberries? What is a traditional Jamaican Christmas without sorrel and rum punch? We all know the answer: it would not be the same.

Although cranberries are not native to Jamaica, Tru-Juice took the decision to bottle its own cranberry juice because of its health benefits and popularity amongst Jamaicans. Tru-Juice Cranberry is also reasonably priced and less tart, with a touch of sweet which suits the Jamaican palate. The cranberry is fantastic for urinary tract health in both men and women, as it acts as an antibacterial agent. Cranberry juice is also known to raise good cholesterol levels and reduce bad cholesterol. It is therefore good for the heart and is rich in antioxidants.

For those of you who are too busy to make your own sorrel drinks, Tru-Juice Sorrel with Ginger is an excellent choice. Tru-Juice grows three varieties of sorrel: Bashment, Manchester Black and Paraguay.

I cannot wax lyrical enough about sorrel. I’ve written in the past about the health wonders of this miracle plant. As a matter of fact, sorrel has even more antioxidant properties than other famous superfoods. Tru-Juice has very strict standards about how the sorrel is stripped and requires that it does not come into contact with harmful fertilisers. They also purchase from local small farmers who must adhere to these rules. The process of making it is just as we would at home by steeping and extracting, adding ginger and spices and chilling at 4 •C to keep the integrity and quality of the product.

“One of sour, two of sweet, three of strong and four of weak”. Those of us with a knack for making delicious rum punch have grown up on this mantra for the perfect blend. Tru-Juice Calico Jack Rum Punch comes from an over 100-year-old McConnell family recipe. The product is named after colonial-era sailor John “Calico Jack” Rackham and was a hit at parties and other events hosted by the family. Many guests requested this fine recipe, and so, luckily for us, they decided that the entire island should enjoy this special libation. Like the other beverages Tru-Juice is famous for, this rum punch is all natural using tropical fruit and local rum. This drink is great for large gatherings. Please drink with caution, and never drink and drive.

Today enjoy my food recipes incorporating Tru-Juice Sorrel, Tru-Juice Cranberry and my appetisers to complement Tru-Juice Calico Jack Rum Punch.

Contact me at info@juicychef.com Thanks to Tru-Juice for giving me this challenge to create holiday recipes using their products for Thursday Food. Many thanks also to my weekly sponsors MegaMart. Bon Appétit!