What is the difference between Indian curry powder and Jamaican curry powder?

Question

I know they have some ingredients in common but what, specifically, does Jamaican curry contain that Indian doesn't, or vice versa?

Answer 1

Good replies everybody ^

However growing up, we usually eat Jamaican style curry goat with plain white or brown rice.  Not with rice and peas that much.

Answer 2

First off, true Indian curries do not use curry powder.  Any good Indian chef or cook worth his salt would never use curry powder.  Indians use a myriad of various spices to create a variety of different & unique curries.  

As far as curry powder goes, there are many different variations and combinations of spices.  But in general:

Jamaican curry powder usually contains ALLSPICE, Indian does not.  Indian curry powder tends to use both black & green cardamom, Jamaican curry powder does not.  Indian curry powders may contain star anise & mace, Jamaican curries powder generally dont use these spices.

Jamaican curries tend to be spicy & sweet, Indian curries are usually spicy with a slightly sour or tangy taste.  The majority of Jamaican curries use coconut milk, only South Indian curries use coconut milk.  Indians do not make beef curries, Jamaicans do.

Jamaican curries use Scotch Bonnet chilies, Indians use small green chilies & dried red chilies in their curries.

Answer 3

MD 1527 is correct, I am a former chef and worked in Jamaica at a resort hotel, the allspice is a extra plus mustard seeds and powder, more turmeric and they are not thick currys, more a stew and a bit soupier.

Indain currys can have 20 spices in them and even then each area of India has there own blend, some have dairy, some use coconut milk and some are meat free.

In Jamaica, there pretty straight forward, chicken beef, lamb or goat, plus a chickpea and veggie one, and are served with the traditional Peas and Rice side dish. Indian currys tend to be served with breads like naan, chapatis or plain rice.

Answer 4

Jamaican curry and Indian curry have different proportions of the same spices. Jamaican curry has more sweetness.