General
ital
What does ital mean?
Describes food or a lifestyle that is natural, additive-free and vital; central to Rastafarian living. Ital food is typically vegetarian and salt-free.
"Wi only cook ital food inna dis house."
Origin
Rastafarian 'Iyaric', from English 'vital' with the 'I' emphasis.
Frequently asked questions
What does ital mean?
It describes food or a lifestyle that is natural, additive-free and vital, central to Rastafarian living; ital food is typically vegetarian and salt-free.
Where does the word ital come from?
It comes from Rastafarian 'Iyaric' speech, derived from the English word 'vital' with the characteristic 'I' emphasis.
Is ital food vegan?
Ital food is typically plant-based and often free of salt and additives, so much of it is vegan, though practices vary between Rastafarians.
Why do Rastas say ital instead of vital?
In Iyaric speech Rastas replace certain syllables with 'I' to emphasise unity and the self, turning 'vital' into 'ital'.
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