Food in Cuba is characterized by the fact that the choice and quality of food on the island has improved significantly in recent years. But if you are one of those who expect exotic and culinary masterpieces, you will be disappointed - Cuban cuisine is quite simple and not very diverse.
Food in Cuba
Traditional Cuban cuisine has been strongly influenced by African, Colombian and Spanish cuisines, so in Cuba it is worth trying national dishes - fried pork with rice and black beans; fried cassava tubers; fresh vegetable salads; fish dishes and seafood dishes; potakhe soup (based on red or black beans, pork, garlic, onion, pepper, ground cumin); picadillo (minced beef with rice), crocodile and turtle meat.
Cubans love fruits, which is why they serve them with almost any dish: they often complement salads, cocktails and desserts with them. So, you will have the opportunity to taste bananas in sauce and fried pineapples.
Top 10 Cuban Must-Try Dishes
Where to eat in Cuba?
At your service:
- snack bars and fast food restaurants where you can order, for example, pizza, sandwiches, ice cream;
- American-style eateries (you can eat fried chicken, fries, hamburger, hot dog here);
- state restaurants: they have a different quality, but when visiting some of them, you should be prepared for the fact that, having ordered a dish of international cuisine with a familiar name, their taste may turn out to be very unexpected (this fact refers, rather, to an unpleasant surprise);
- paladares (private restaurants): they often have only a few tables and a limited choice of food, but the food is of the best quality.
Drinks in Cuba
Popular Cuban drinks are fruit juices and cocktails made from fresh pineapples, oranges, mangoes, papaya; lemonade (it is based on water, sugar, lime juice, ice); guarapo (fresh sugar cane drink) Cuban coffee (because it is very strong, it is served with sugar); tea, including chamomile.
You should definitely try the national Cuban drink - rum: you can drink it both in pure form and as part of various alcoholic cocktails. If you decide to try cocktails, then opt for Mojito (soda, rum, mint, lime, sugar, ice) and Cuba Libre (rum with Coca-Cola).
In Cuba, you can try beer of excellent quality, and it is better to drink wine, for example, Chilean, since the quality of the local drink leaves much to be desired.
Food tour to Cuba
If you wish, you can go on one of three popular gastronomic tours in Cuba - “Traditional Cuisine Route”, “Cuban Cocktail Route”, “Modern Cuisine Route”. For example, on a modern cuisine tour, you can sample banana balls, corn and malanga pancakes, banana chips, and famous Chilean wines. If you follow all three routes, you will have a clear understanding of Cuban culinary traditions.
Cuba is a sunny and cheerful country, which is famous for soulful love songs, incendiary dances, fragrant cigars and wonderful rum. In addition, while relaxing on Liberty Island, you can enjoy a simple but delicious meal.
