What is the meaning of barbecue?Barbecues | Tips & Advice | 6 minutes of reading | By Mike Boumphrey This might sound like a strange question, as barbecue is such an everyday word in the English language, but have you ever stopped to consider where the word comes from, and what is the meaning of barbecue to different people around the world? To us Brits, it may bring to mind good times with the aroma of charcoal burning on a hot summer’s day and enjoying a hearty outdoor meal with friends or family. However every culture has its own version of barbecuing, so you might be forgiven for wondering at the origin of this rather peculiar word and what it means to other people. Firstly, let’s look at the genesis of the word. Alternatively, you may wish to browse our collection of the best barbecues and accessories, available to purchase online.Where does the word barbecue come from?The history of the word Barbecue comes from the indigenous Arawak people in Cuba, Hispaniola and Jamaica who called the slow cooking of meat over an open flame Barbacoa. In 1492, the Spanish Conquistadors discovered the Taínos people roasting meat on a grid of green sticks over fire. They adopted this style of barbacoa cooking, spreading it to the rest of the world, including America and Europe. As the word travelled, it evolved and adapted to different languages and cultures. That is how the word and technique of barbecue cooking was spread around the world. In some cultures, the word has survived, whilst in other countries, although the concept of barbecuing persists, it is called something different. What is the meaning of the term barbecue in the UK?Here, we think we know what the term barbecue means. To us, it refers to four distinct, but connected things, but did you know that in the US, it means something different entirely? In the UK barbecue means: The noun “a barbecue”, which refers to the equipment used for a method of outdoor cooking over a live fire or smoke; be that from a gas barbecue, charcoal grill, wood pellet smoker, or now even an electric BBQ. In the US they normally refer to these as grills; a word, brought over by German settlers in the US. Grills were popularised in America during the 1950s with the advent of the Weber Kettle BBQ and remain popular to this day. The verb “to barbecue” which in the UK is an umbrella term for using a barbecue, normally to prepare simple, quick-cooked food over a high heat, like burgers, sausages, steaks or small cuts of chicken. The focus is normally on speed and convenience in the UK. In the States they would refer to this as grilling, broiling or searing. Another use for the noun “a barbecue” is to mean an informal outdoor party at which a barbecue is used to serve good food. Americans would refer to this as a cookout, whilst down below in Australia of course, it’s a barbie. “Barbecue Sauce” A sweet, fruity and smoky sauce or marinade often used at a barbecue. It tends not to be as sweet in the US.What does barbecue mean to Americans?America is the land of barbecuing. But over there, barbecue refers to a different technique. It means using charcoal or wood to slowly cook meat for several hours over indirect heat, either in a smoker or on a grill. The heat and smoke slowly penetrate the meat, producing soft tender meat that is infused with complex woody aromatics.There are many different styles of regional barbecue in the US with different methods, meats, and sauces used in the barbecue process, be that beef or pork ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket or other cuts. For instance, Texas is famous for its smoky Texas-style brisket, Carolina for the tangy sweetness of pulled pork and Kansas City for ribs.America’s deep smoky barbecue flavours are enhanced by the use of dry rubs, seasonings, marinades or barbecue sauces. In the US it is also linked to regional festivals, fierce rivalry at barbecue competitions, expressing regional pride and representing quintessentially American cultural traditions particularly in the Deep South. Barbecues can often be an integral part of Memorial Day and Independence Day celebrations.The American style of barbecuing is starting to catch on here in the UK now, with authentic US-style barbecue restaurants and home smokers gaining popularity, for example the Weber Smokey Mountain Charcoal Barbecues and Weber SmokeFire Wood Pellet Grills.What is barbecue like in other countries around the world?Almost every country has its own version of barbecue-style cooking which has been adapted over the years to incorporate their own traditions and cultures. The names may be different, but the core idea remains the same, that is; meat prepared on a frame over a heat source. Here is a flavour of barbecue cooking from around the world: Korean barbecue is called Gogigui and is typically beef short ribs, marinated chicken, spicy pork and bulgogi beef, with a variety of sauces. In Germany, barbecue involves grilling sausages, pork and beef steak over charcoal. The meats are often marinated in a mixture of beer, onions and garlic for flavour. Argentina is famous for its beef, which is grilled over open wood fires, along with lamb and pork. The meat is often seasoned with oregano, garlic and chilli flakes and served with chimichurri sauce. Jamaican barbecue consists of pork, chicken or fish which is marinated in their legendary jerk seasoning and roasted over charcoal for a smoky flavour. Japanese barbecue consists of thinly sliced pork beef or chicken, usually marinated in sugar, soy sauce and sake. Ginger and garlic give the meat extra flavour. In Mexico, Carne Asada involves marinating cuts of beef such as flank or skirt and grilling them over high heat for a smoky charred taste, whilst their barbacoa-style beef lamb or goat is slow cooked in an underground oven for a tender and flavoursome result. South African barbecue is known as braai, and includes boerewors (sausage), steaks, chops and chicken. Meat is seasoned with a variety of herbs and spices, served alongside pap (a maize dish) and chakalaka (a spicy tomato and vegetable relish). Tandoori is India’s style of barbecue cooking, which traditionally utilises clay ovens to cook spiced meats, vegetables and breads over charcoal or wood fires. Australian barbies are like a way of life. Over there they are fun social gatherings under the sun, with the phrase “slip another shrimp on the barbie” having almost become a watchword for Australian culture.Barbecue-style cooking has been adapted to mean very different things to people around the world then, and over time has absorbed facets of many disparate cultures. There is just one more question troubling us, over the word barbecue however…What does BBQ, stand for?With the origins of the word coming from Barbecoa, why is barbecue shortened to BBQ, not BBC? The answer is that in some cases, English speakers use the spellings barbecue and barbeque interchangeably, and barbeque is often used in marketing and advertising material, both of which help to explain why it is shortened to BBQ. It also prevents the acronym being mistaken with that of the British Broadcasting Company (the BBC), so BBQ it is.So next time you’re tucking into a juicy steak or a tender rack of ribs, consider the humble origins of the word barbecue, and what it means in different countries. It’s a testament to the power of language to connect cultures and traditions across the world. One thing we all agree on however, is that barbecue food is definitely delicious.You can browse our collection of fantastic barbecues and accessories online, or if you’d like to try your hand at producing the exciting smoky flavours of American-style BBQing, then see our listings for the Weber 47cm Smokey Mountain Cooker Smoker or the Weber SmokeFire EX4 GBS Wood Fired Pellet Grill. 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