VN – 15 Sep, 2025

Today we celebrate Ital food. Ital is at the heart of Rastafari culture. Originating in Jamaica in the 1930s, Rastafari is now a global religion, with the liberation of Black people from Western oppression (Babylon) being one of its core goals. Rastafari promotes self-sufficiency and rejects consumerism.

The word 'Ital' stems from the word ‘vital’ referring to a natural relationship to the land as a means of physically and spiritually nourishing the people. Mostly vegan or vegetarian, Ital food centres on organic, self-grown, natural produce with minimal processing or additives. Ital diets are rich in fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, pulses, and grains. Those following a strict Ital diet reject refined flours, sugars, and even salt, choosing to season foods with herbs. Less strict Rastas might eat a small amount of meat and fish; but never fish without scales, pork, or shellfish. Some also follow a raw vegan/vegetarian diet. Non-alcoholic juices, herbal teas, and tonics are also popular in Ital culture. Rastas make a fermented 'Roots tonic', an alcohol-free fermented drink made with healing and restorative herbs.

The gorgeous fruit and vegetables in the photos here are courtesy of the Coco Collective, a Black-led, Ital community garden in South London, growing culturally diverse crops and healing herbs. Established in 2022, Coco Collective are also doing essential work around intergenerational learning and land justice for Black and people of colour communities. It was a joy to see the collective doing an awesome trade selling their fresh produce at the recent Black Farmers Market event held in Brixton.

We’ll be writing about Rastafari and fermented 'Roots wine' very soon.