The memory begins here
The Two-Tone Sweet That Catches Every Eye
Walk through any Jamaican market or school fair and you will spot Grater Cake before anything else — those bright pink-and-white squares sitting on wax paper, shining in the sun like little jewels. Grater Cake is Jamaica's version of coconut candy, and it is one of the simplest, most beloved confections on the island. The recipe could not be more basic: freshly grated coconut, white sugar, and a little almond extract, cooked down until it crystallises.
Grater Cake got its name because the coconut was traditionally grated on a hand-held grater made from a flattened tin can with nail holes punched through it — a tool you can still find in Jamaican country kitchens today.