A taste of Southside with Rosalyn Droyer

Jamaica's most-anticipated annual food event, the Gleaner-sponsored Restaurant Week, will this year be energising the Southside community of central Kingston. Powered by the kind contributions of its like-minded sponsors, this ninth staging of Restaurant Week takes on deeper significance through its assistance to City Life Ministries, a charity project located in Southside, Kingston, that is working to institute transformational programmes in people's lives. As a tribute to the natural culinary talents within the community, starting today, and each Thursday until November 14, Restaurant Week, in partnership with Gas Pro, will be bringing you 'A Taste of Southside', a sampling of home-made foods and drink from residents in the area. Enjoy!

These swelteringly hot days call for constant cool-down and hydration, and a tasty way to beat the heat is also a sweet throwback to one's childhood - the 'suck-suck'.

With Restaurant Week just around the corner, we thought you just might like a fun drink option to go along with your selected 'Nyam and Scram' lunch-time meal. To kick off this four-week series of 'A Taste of Southside', we are as giddy as a child at Christmas in presenting Rosalyn Droyer, a woman known for making these simple-yet delish-flavoured drinks in a plastic bag.

Affectionately called 'Din Din' by family, friends and neighbours at her Fleet Street, central Kingston residence, Rosalyn's Suck-Sucks are known far and wide and have a special nutritional surprise - they are made with real fruits. Yes, no syrup-based, sugar-and-water combination for Rosalyn, who packages the natural juices in three sizes and sells them from her home as well as at the Holy Family Primary School gate for $5, $10, and $20.

The 46-year-old mother of two children, one of whom lives with her, began selling her famed Suck-Sucks eight months ago as an attempt to pull herself out of a low point in her life.

"Things were really rough and I knew something had to change. So I remember one night coming home and asking God for an inspiration so that I could provide for myself and my son, and He blessed me with this idea and I am grateful I can do this."

Her healthy juices come in a variety of yummy natural flavours - june plum, Carrot, Pineapple, and, in an ode to the upcoming season, Sorrel. She also makes a fantastic combination Fruit Punch which is blended from as many as seven fruits. Knowing how loved her juices are and how popular her Suck-Sucks have become - with both children and adults alike - she has dreams of one day selling her juices on a larger scale.

Her most requested flavour - by clients and her own family as a drink at dinnertime - is the Pineapple, and she is happy to share the recipe:

RECIPE

3 medium pineapples

6 pimento seeds

1/4lb ginger

Lime

sugar to taste

METHOD:

1. Place once gallon of water in a pot.

2. Add pimento seeds and ginger.

3. Leave to boil.

4. While pot is heating to boil, skin the pineapples.

5. After boiling, turn off stove, take the skin of the pineapples and place in the pot.

6. Cover and allow to draw until the water cools to room temperature.

7. While water cools, shred the flesh of the pineapples.

8. Add a small amount of water from the (drawn) pot to the shredded pineapple and blend for approximately 30 seconds.

9. Pour out through straining cloth.

10. Add lime and sugar and mix.

11. Pour through straining cloth for a second time.

12. Add lime and sugar and strain again until preferred taste and consistency is reached.

Enjoy!