The Country Food Similarity Index is a statistically-based attempt to quantify how similar the food in one country is relative to another. By comparing the weight of raw food ingredients used in each country, a score is assigned that reflects the degree of similarity between the respective countries. The methodology is exactly the same for each country studied.
The Most Similar Cuisines to Barbadian Food
Barbadian cuisine is a rich fusion of African, British, and Caribbean influences. The five countries with the most similar food to Barbados are all English speaking countries. Four of the five are considered to be part of North America.
- Trinidad & Tobago‘s cuisine also has many similarities to food in Barbados, especially in their use of tropical fruits and vegetables. Both countries embrace the rich flavors of coconut, ginger, and various spices. However, Trinidad & Tobago’s cuisine has a much bigger Indian influence than in Barbados.
- Grenada is to the northeast of Barbados. It is another former British colony in the Caribbean. They share many culinary similarities, particularly in their love for fresh seafood and chicken. Both countries use fruity ingredients like coconut and bananas in their traditional dishes.
- Bahamas and Barbados both enjoy fresh seafood, since most of their people live close to the sea. Fried foods are common in both countries. Their cuisines have variations of peas and rice dishes. These countries also consume a lot of tropical fruits like coconuts, bananas, and grapefruits.
- United States has had a strong influence on Barbados for centuries, especially through immigration and tourism. This connection has led to some culinary exchanges. American Southern food, particularly soul food, overlaps with Barbadian cuisine in its roots in African cooking. U.S. fast-food chains have made an impact on their food culture.
- United Kingdom retains many culinary traditions inherited from the UK as a former colony. Pudding and souse, steamed puddings, and baked meat pies all trace their lineage to British cuisine. The concept of afternoon tea, fish and chips, and the use of gravy and roasts in Sunday meals are shared between the two nations.
The Least Similar Cuisines to Barbadian Food
Relatively few countries have food that is far different from Barbados. Nevertheless, the five countries with the least similar food to the country are all located in Africa. In stark contrast to St. Lucia, these countries are landlocked as well.
- Chad is country that borders Sudan. Sorghum and millet are the two most commonly consumed grains there. These crops are well adapted to the Sahel’s harsh climate. Beef is the most popular meat, but lamb meat is also often eaten there. Peanuts and sesame seeds are also commonly parts of their cuisine.
- South Sudan is a landlocked country in Africa. Cassava accounts for the largest part of the country’s diet, however South Sudanese eat their share of sorghum as well. Beef is the most commonly consumed meat in the South Sudan, while saltwater fish and chicken are more popular in Barbados.
- Central African Republic is located directly to the south of Chad. It is another French-speaking country in Africa on this list. Cassava and yam are two of the most commonly eaten staple ingredients in the country. Its food reflects the culinary traditions of various ethnic groups, such as the Baya, Banda, and Sango, among others.
- Niger is located in the Sahel region of Africa. It has an extremely dry climate, in contrast to Barbados. Its two most common staple foods are millet and sorghum, two grains that are rarely consumed in Barbados. Some traditional dishes in Niger include tuwo, a porridge made from millet or sorghum, and dambunama, a dish made from millet, vegetables, and meat.
- Burundi is yet another French-speaking African country on this list. It is located in the tropical regions of Africa. Its diet is in large part based on cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, and bananas. Furthermore, in contrast to Barbados, freshwater fish is the country’s biggest source of meat, not saltwater fish.
Full Food Similarity Ranking of Countries and Territories
Barbados’ Most Common Food Ingredients
Protein: Chicken, Saltwater Fish
Fruit: Banana, Grape
Vegetable: Onion, Broccoli
Starch: Wheat, Rice
Primarily based on 2020 data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the U.N.