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Take a ‘swing’ at artisanal handmade paletas with Tam Jam Gourmet Delights

Published:Thursday | December 8, 2022 | 12:54 AMKrysta Anderson/ - Staff reporter
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The queen of curry now offers curried goat roti wraps over the weekend.
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The queen of curry now offers curried goat roti wraps over the weekend.
Ammesha Samuels drops by to try a paleta for herself.
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Ammesha Samuels drops by to try a paleta for herself.
If you require more sweetness, your paleta can be dipped in dark chocolate.
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If you require more sweetness, your paleta can be dipped in dark chocolate.
If you are a chocolate fan, what’s not to love?
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If you are a chocolate fan, what’s not to love?
The former Miss World, Toni Ann Singh (right), takes her cousin, Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, for paletas at Tam Jam.
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The former Miss World, Toni Ann Singh (right), takes her cousin, Miss Universe Jamaica 2022, Toshami Calvin, for paletas at Tam Jam.
Spin the paleta wheel and choose from a wide variety of flavours.
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Spin the paleta wheel and choose from a wide variety of flavours.
Meet the beauty and talent behind Tam Jam Gourmet Delights,Tamika Nelson.
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Meet the beauty and talent behind Tam Jam Gourmet Delights,Tamika Nelson.
The longest reigning Miss World, Toni-Ann Signh, takes a swing at paletas for the first time.
Contributed
The longest reigning Miss World, Toni-Ann Signh, takes a swing at paletas for the first time.
Tam Jam is perched at the entrance of Devon House, facing the parking lot.
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Tam Jam is perched at the entrance of Devon House, facing the parking lot.
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When you think of Devon House, the first thing that comes to mind is ice cream. But have you ever tried paletas? Well, you’re in luck. Because it just so happens that the same iconic location boasts a quaint new shop called Tam Jam Gourmet Delights that offers the sweet delights. The frozen treats are artisanal, handmade with love, and are good for you, too.

“Food is an adventure for me. I like to experiment and try different cuisines. That is how the idea of paletas came up. Paletas is Spanish. It originated out of Mexico and it is basically paletas made with real fruit,” owner Tamika Nelson told Food.

But before we get deeper into Nelson’s food journey, let’s swing right into the yummy flavours on the menu. Pine ninja, mango tango, pure passion, yummy gummy apple, guava, and soursop are just some of the fruit options available.

Dairy lovers can enjoy strawberry cheesecake, rainbow vanilla, or vanilla flavours. While for vegans, there are the creamy but non-dairy options of Blue Mountain mocha with Oreo, coconut, mango coconut, and chocolate bliss. And if you want to add extra buzz to your day, she infuses alcohol to create piña colada, ‘strong back’, spiked sorrel, and Wray’s cafe poptails.

For as long as she can remember, she has had a love affair with all things culinary. The ‘food-trepreneur’ actually started out making lunch for schools. However, with the emergence of COVID-19, she realised that she needed to create another stream of income...and Tam Jam was born.

“At the time, I saw frequent promotions of us consuming more vitamins C, D, and zinc. People’s diet and those with comorbidities entered the chat. And I thought about this snack that I would make for myself and friends from time to time. It’s a fun way to have fruits and still get your nutrients in,” she highlighted.

Nelson began conducting extensive research and noticed that Kingston had yet to get a taste of the refreshing frozen treat.

“I thought it was a fun way to introduce nutrients and create a business, all while experimenting with flavours. With fruits, you can try so many different combinations,” she added.

Since opening Tam Jam Gourmet Delights in May of this year, the response has been incredible. Persons are pleasantly surprised by the richness of flavour.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com