"Did you know that in Cuba, change isn't given in coins but in candies? And no, it's not a joke," a Cuban woman revealed in a TikTok video, showing how a state-run store handed her sweets as change after making a purchase. The user, identified as @ledyhr92, shared her experience in a short clip depicting the store's interior, expressing disbelief: "You go to a store, buy something, and if there's change due, instead of coins, you get a couple of candies, as if that solves anything."
The footage shows the young woman displaying the counter and the candies she received instead of the coins she was owed. What may seem like a prank actually highlights a familiar issue for many Cubans: the shortage of small change and the absence of proper cash change in the island's shops.
"Would you accept candies as change in your country?" the TikToker asked her followers, challenging a practice that has become commonplace in Cuban stores, where customers are forced to take candies, matches, or other low-value items when coins are unavailable.
The post sparked numerous comments from both Cubans at home and abroad, as well as from foreigners, expressing shock and outrage at the hardships faced by consumers on the island. The lack of cash change remains a persistent problem in Cuba, where economic turmoil and a dysfunctional monetary system combine to create absurd situations like this one.
Understanding the Cash Change Crisis in Cuba
Why are candies given as change in Cuba?
Candies are given as change due to a shortage of small denomination coins in Cuba, forcing stores to use alternative low-value items when coins are unavailable.
How do Cubans feel about receiving candies as change?
Many Cubans express frustration and disbelief at receiving candies instead of cash change, seeing it as a reflection of the broader economic challenges on the island.
What impact does the lack of cash change have on Cuban consumers?
The lack of cash change forces Cuban consumers to accept undesirable alternatives, complicating everyday transactions and highlighting systemic economic inefficiencies.