Juici enjoys oyster trade
Published:Saturday | July 14, 2012 | 12:00 AM
Dave Lindo, Gleaner Writer
ALLIGATOR POND, Manchester:
FOR MORE than 30 years, Leslie McKie, popularly known as 'Juici', has made a living selling oysters and his famous oyster punch, believed to be aphrodisiacs.
The Gleaner caught up with Juici at the last week's Little Ochi Bigga Seafood Carnival in Alligator Pond, Manchester, where his stall was a hit.
McKie is from St Andrew, but has been living in Old Harbour, St Catherine, for more than 12 years.
In explaining how he got started in the oyster business, he said: "I used to live in New Kingston, and there was an old man who used to ride around on a bicycle selling oysters. My sister knew him, and one day he asked me to help him ride and sell oysters."
He added: "We used to sell all across Kingston - on Omari Road, in Half-Way Tree, and New Kingston. We also used to pull oysters at The Pegasus hotel buffet area. I did that for a time until I branched off on my own."
NOT AN EASY TASK
McKie said getting the oysters is not an easy task sometimes. "I get my oysters at Old Harbour Bay. I buy from people there, but when it is plenty, I get them by myself," he said.
"We have to go deep in the mangrove, in swamp land, sometimes in water up to our chest. The oysters can be found on the trees in the mangrove from the roots and some tree limbs that hang in the water. We use machetes to dig them off (the trees)."
After coming back on land from the mangroves, they clean the oysters and get them ready for sale. McKie is in constant demand for his oysters at many top social events.
"From the rich to the poor man buy oysters from mi," McKie said. "When the big functions are anywhere, they call me and mi just gone. All of them big people, they call me to sell oysters there."
The oyster punch is a very popular item that does good business for McKie. "People love the oyster punch. I make it with the oysters, little Irish moss, little rum, wine, honey, lime, Dragon, and little sugar," he disclosed.
"People love the oysters because it's a strong nature food. It puts lead into your pencil and strengthens your back. It increases sperm count for men who want to get their women pregnant."
McKie said at times he finds pearls in the oysters. "Jamaica's oysters carry smaller pearls. I find them at times, and I have people who I sell the pearls," he said. "Sometimes I have all 100 pearls, but them don't big. I sell some and give away some."
PHOTOS BY DAVE LINDO