country Essentials · 6 foods
U.S. Virgin Islands Essentials
A considered first route through U.S. Virgin Islands: the foods that carry its everyday habits, celebrations, ingredients, and memory.
Explore all U.S. Virgin Islands foods →THE
ESSENTIALS
The complete shortlist
6 foods to know.
Each selection includes the reason it belongs here—so this is a guide, not just a pile of names.
British Virgin Islands
Fish and Fungi
Fungi
Fish and Fungi — the official territorial dish of both the USVI and BVI; cornmeal 'fungi' cooked with okra until thick and smooth, served alongside pan-fried or stewed red snapper seasoned with thyme, garlic, onions, and Scotch bonnet pepper.
Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
Crucian Tarts
Crucian Tarts — the national dessert of the U.S. Virgin Islands by territorial legislation; small semi-circular pastries with flaky crust and thick fillings of coconut, guava, pineapple, guavaberry, or tamarind, baked across all three islands.
Frederiksted, U.S. Virgin Islands
Cruzan Rum
Cruzan Rum — produced on St. Croix since 1760 at Estate Diamond in Frederiksted, managed by the Nelthropp family for eight generations; Cruzan 9 is spiced with nine herbs representing the nine districts of St. Croix.
Charlotte Amalie, U.S. Virgin Islands
Banana Daiquiri
Banana Daiquiri — the frozen cocktail invented circa 1970 at the Mountaintop bar on St. Thomas; dark rum, lime juice, banana liqueur, and ripe bananas blended with ice into the original frozen banana daiquiri.
Christiansted, U.S. Virgin Islands
Crucian Kallaloo
Kallaloo
Crucian Kallaloo — a New Year's heritage soup with West African roots, made from wild foraged greens (papalolo, pusley, bata-bata), okra, seafood or salted meat, and served over a ball of fungi for good luck.
U.S. Virgin Islands
Red Grout
Red Grout — a Danish-influenced guava and tapioca gelled dessert traditionally served on Transfer Day, March 31, commemorating the 1917 sale of the islands from Denmark to the United States; Cruzans prefer it with sweetened canned milk.