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Jamaican Patois · Food and cooking

Mannish water

Goat soup

Say itMAN-nish WAW-ta

What “Mannish water” means

Mannish water is a peppery soup made from goat, traditionally including the head and offal, cooked with green bananas, dumplings and scotch bonnet.

Examples

Dem a cook a big pot a mannish water fi di party.

They're cooking a big pot of mannish water for the party.

How to use it

Everyday food word. It's associated with big gatherings, such as parties and weddings.

Cultural context

The name is usually explained by a popular belief that the soup boosts a man's strength and vigour. That's folklore, not a nutrition claim.