Top 20 Caribbean Foods and Drinks at Notting Hill Carnival

Notting Hill Carnival isn’t just Europe’s biggest street party, it’s also a Caribbean food and drink paradise. From the smoky aroma of jerk chicken sizzling on grills, to the sweet fizz of a chilled ginger beer, Carnival food is as much a celebration as the music and costumes.

For many, the Carnival experience is incomplete without a plate of Caribbean comfort food in one hand and a cold tropical drink in the other. If you’re wondering what dishes and drinks to look out for, or even better, how to recreate the Carnival experience at home, this guide is for you.

 

Here are the Top 20 Caribbean Foods and Drinks to enjoy during Carnival season, complete with recipes, cultural background, and a ready-made Carnival Shopping List you can shop online at 4Way Foods.

1. Jerk Chicken - The King of Carnival

No dish screams Carnival louder than jerk chicken. Smoky, spicy, and bursting with flavour, it’s a street food icon.

Recipe (Serves 4):

• 8 chicken thighs (skin-on)

• 3 tbsp Dunn's River Jerk Seasoning (buy from Caribbean Seasonings)

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 spring onions

• 2 cloves garlic

• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper

• 2 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• Juice of 1 lime

Instructions:

1. Blend seasoning, onions, garlic, pepper, soy sauce, sugar, and lime juice into a marinade.

2. Rub generously over chicken. Leave overnight.

3. Grill over charcoal (or oven bake at 200°C for 40 mins, finishing on grill for smoky flavour).

🔥 Carnival tip: Pair jerk chicken with Festival Fried Dumplings (see below).

2. Curry Goat - The Crowd Pleaser

Tender, slow-cooked goat meat in rich curry sauce. A must-have at family gatherings and Carnival food stalls.

Recipe (Serves 6):

• 1kg goat meat (on bone)

• 3 tbsp Dunn’s River Curry Powder

• 1 onion, chopped

• 2 garlic cloves

• 1 Scotch bonnet pepper

• 1 tbsp fresh thyme

• 1 tin chopped tomatoes

• 1 cup water or stock

• 2 tbsp vegetable oil

Instructions:

1. Season goat meat with curry powder, salt, and garlic. Marinate overnight.

2. Heat oil, brown the meat, then add onion, thyme, tomatoes, and pepper.

3. Add stock and simmer for 2–3 hours until tender.

✅ Perfect with Rice & Peas.

3. Rice & Peas - Carnival Staple

A classic side, but so good it deserves its own mention. It’s actually kidney beans (not peas), cooked in coconut milk and herbs.

Recipe (Serves 6):

• 2 cups easy cook rice
  

• 1 tin Gungo Peas or kidney beans (from Caribbean Peas & Beans)

• 1 tin coconut milk, we recommend the Grace Premium Thai Coconut Milk
  

• 1 garlic clove

• 1 spring onion

• 1 sprig thyme

• 1 Scotch bonnet (whole, don’t cut)

• Salt to taste

Instructions:

1. In a pot, combine peas, coconut milk, garlic, onion, thyme, and Scotch bonnet. Bring to a boil.

2. Add rice, reduce heat, and cook until fluffy.

4. Festival Fried Dumplings - Sweet & Savoury

Soft, golden fried dumplings that pair perfectly with jerk meats.

Recipe (Serves 4):

• 2 cups flour

• 3 tbsp sugar

• 1 tsp baking powder

• Pinch of salt

• ¾ cup water

• Oil for frying

Instructions:

1. Mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder.

2. Add water gradually to form dough.

3. Roll into logs and deep fry until golden.

5. Ackee & Saltfish - Jamaica’s National Dish

This breakfast dish is now a Carnival favourite. Ackee fruit (similar to scrambled eggs in texture) with salted cod and spices.

Recipe (Serves 4):

• 1 tin ackee

• 250g saltfish (soaked overnight, boiled, and flaked)

• 1 onion

• 1 bell pepper

• 2 spring onions

• 1 Scotch bonnet

• Thyme

Instructions:

1. Fry onions, peppers, and Scotch bonnet in oil.

2. Add saltfish and cook for 5 minutes.

3. Gently stir in ackee and thyme. Serve with fried dumplings.

6. Jamaican Patties

Golden pastry filled with spicy beef, chicken, or vegetable mix. Easy to carry while dancing in the streets!

7. Doubles (Trinidad & Tobago)

Street food magic from Trinidad, soft bara bread filled with curried chickpeas, topped with chutneys and hot sauce.

Quick Recipe:

• Ingredients: Chickpeas, curry powder, garlic, turmeric, bara dough (flour, yeast, turmeric).

• Instructions: Fry bara, fill with chickpeas and sauces.

👉 Shop: Chickpeas | Premium Chutney

8. Roti Wraps

Trinidad-style flatbread stuffed with curried goat, chicken, or veg. Perfect handheld Carnival food.

9. Plantain – Fried Perfection

Sweet, caramelised slices of ripe plantain fried in oil. The perfect Carnival snack.

10. Caribbean Coleslaw

Tangy, creamy slaw spiked with lime and Scotch bonnet – a cooling balance to spicy dishes.

Drinks to Keep the Carnival Vibes Flowing

No Carnival feast is complete without drinks that flow as easily as the music. From refreshing sodas to bold rums to tropical drinks, here are the top picks that make Notting Hill Carnival unforgettable:

11. Sorrel Drink (Hibiscus Punch)

Tangy, spiced red drink made with hibiscus flowers, ginger, and cloves. Grab your Grace Tropical Rhythms Sorrell Ginger drink perfect for carnival.

12. Ginger Beer

Fiery, fizzy, refreshing. Popular brands: Grace Ginger Beer or Old Jamaica Ginger Beer.

13. Supermalt

Sweet, malty, non-alcoholic energy drink loved across the Caribbean. Grab your Supermalt Drink here, one of 4way Food's bestsellers.

14. Bigga Fruit Punch

Light, zesty, and perfect with rum - Grab the Bigga Fruit Punch perfect for Carnival drinks.

15. Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum Punch

The classic carnival drink - sweet, strong, and tropical. Nothing screams Carnival like a big jug of rum punch. This potent overproof rum from Jamaica is often mixed with tropical juices like pineapple, orange, and lime, plus a dash of grenadine for colour. Perfect for sharing, and it gets better the longer it chills.

Quick Recipe:

• Ingredients: 

  • 250ml Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum
  • 500ml pineapple juice
  • 500ml orange juice
  • Juice of 4 limes
  • Dash of grenadine syrup
  • Fresh orange + pineapple slices to garnish
     

• Instructions: Serve over ice in plastic cups because let’s be honest, Carnival isn’t the place for glassware. Also garnish with fruit.

👉 Shop: Wray & Nephew Wray’s 43 Full Proof Rum | Wray and Nephew Overproof Rum

16. Coconut Water

Fresh, hydrating - balances out all the spice. 

👉 Shop: Grace Coconut Water Smooth | Grace Coconut Water with Real Coconut Bits

17. Guinness Punch

A creamy mix of Guinness, condensed milk, nutmeg, and vanilla - a Jamaican favourite.

18. Tropical Juices (Mango, Pineapple, Guava)

Refreshing Carnival must-haves. We have the Grace Tropical Pineapple Ginnger (a bestseller) and Tropical Fruit Punch in stock.

19. Magnum Tonic Wine

The red bottle that keeps showing up in every Carnival crowd shot. Sweet, slightly bitter, with a tonic kick, Magnum is loved for its party stamina effect. It’s usually sipped straight from the bottle, ice-cold.

Where to buy Magnum Tonic Wine for Notting Hill Carnival 2025. You all know where already,

20. Bigga Soft Drinks

Flavours like the Bigga ginger beer and Bigga pineapple bring back Carnival childhood memories.

🎉 Your Carnival Shopping List

Create your Carnival feast at home with essentials from 4Way Foods:

• Caribbean Seasonings - jerk seasoning, curry powder, thyme

• Caribbean Peas & Beans - gungo peas, kidney beans, black-eyed peas

• Caribbean Drinks - ginger beer, sorrel, Supermalt, Ting, Bigga

• Caribbean Snacks - patties, plantain chips, festival mix

• Caribbean Carnival Foods & Drinks - everything you need in one place

Final Thoughts

Carnival is about more than just food, it’s about culture, community, and celebration. But food is the heart of the Carnival experience, bringing people together one plate at a time. Whether you’re dancing in Notting Hill or recreating the vibes at home, these top 20 Caribbean foods and drinks are the perfect way to join the celebration.

So fire up the grill, grab a cold drink, and let the Carnival come to you.