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The cuisine of Florida is a diverse blend of Southern, Caribbean, Latin American, and seafood-based culinary traditions found in Florida, reflecting the state's multicultural population, subtropical climate, and coastal geography.
The native Timucua culture farmed and fished in north central and northeast Florida. They prepared a black tea called "black drink" (or "white drink" because of its purifying effects), which served a ceremonial purpose, and was a highly caffeinated Cassina tea, brewed from the leaves of the yaupon holly tree.
Later on, when the Seminole people settled in South Florida, they brought in their own unique food practices that reflected the resources and environment surrounding them. The Seminole tribe was innovative in the way that they used coontie seeds to produce calorie-dense bread. [1] Cabbage palm was noticeably consumed by the Seminole tribe along with nutritionally rich foods like nuts, berries, and corn which was especially significant for their annual tradition of the Green Corn Ceremony. They also produced a diverse array of bananas like dwarf bananas, red bananas, and grey bananas.
The Spanish first brought citrus to Florida in the 16th century, and orange groves started being an important commercial industry for the state in the 1870s. [2]
In the 1950s, following the Cuban Revolution, a significant influx of Cuban refugees came to South Florida and influenced the food scene, especially in Miami. The arrival of several waves of Caribbean, Hispanic, and Asian immigrants to Florida since the late 19th century has played an important role in the development of its cuisine.
Citrus fruit, especially oranges, are a major part of Florida's economy. Orange juice became the official state beverage in 1967. Oranges are also Florida's state fruit and the orange blossom is the state flower. [6] According to the Florida Department of Citrus, the citrus industry employs over 32,500 people and provides an annual economic impact of $6.9 billion to the state. [7]
Versailles is a famous Cuban restaurant and Bakery in Little Havana, Miami.
Columbia in Ybor City is the oldest continuously operated restaurant in the state as well as the nation's oldest Spanish restaurant.
Pollo Tropical, a chain restaurant specializing in Floribbean-style grilled chicken, originated in the Miami area, and has since spread internationally.
Miami Grill is a restaurant chain, with the majority of restaurants in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties of Florida.
The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival is an annual food festival at Epcot, in the Walt Disney World Resort in Bay Lake, Florida.
The Florida Strawberry Festival is one of Florida's oldest and most popular food festivals located in Plant City, Florida. It celebrates strawberry harvest with events, strawberry-themed dishes, concerts, and community traditions. It takes place annually in mid-March drawing in hundreds of thousands of visitors. [8]
The Great Atlantic Seafood Festival takes place in Jacksonville, Florida each year during the month of March. It features Florida's best seafood dishes that come fried, broiled, boiled, grilled or blackened. Along with this, there is music, arts and crafts, rides and games. [8]
Publix is a major grocery store throughout the state of Florida with headquarters in Winter Haven, where the grocery chain originated. Publix subs, or Pub subs, are popular submarine sandwiches that can be made at the stores' deli counters. [9]
Miami Beach is an American cocktail, made from gin, pineapple juice, and cane syrup, named after the resort city in South Florida.
Old Sour is a sauce and salad dressing used in the Bahamas and Key West, Florida.
Florida is home to major red mango cultivars, such as the Haden variety.
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