The stark reality of daily life in Cuba has been laid bare in a video shared by Father Leandro NaunHung, depicting residents in a rural area of Santiago de Cuba as they prepare and use a makeshift "nonó" stove for cooking. "Every day in Cuba feels like an endurance test. Another one," the priest commented on social media alongside the video.
He further elaborated, "The everyday life of Cubans has become an endless marathon with no finish line. It's not an exaggeration to say that the simplest tasks—basic, minimal necessities—are now uphill battles."
A Glimpse into Rural Cuban Cooking
The video highlights an elderly man tamping down sawdust inside a wide metal tube, leaving a central hole—created using a thinner tube that's later removed—to allow oxygen in. The process involves covering the top with damp ashes, "so it lasts longer and burns evenly without burning the top," explained the priest, passing on the farmer's guidance.
"Here is Gloria with her 'nonó,' about to brew coffee," the priest narrates, showing a woman preparing to make coffee. She admits to preferring this method over using a wood-burning stove: "The other day I tried to light the wood stove, and it was a struggle," she said, adding, "I assemble it myself."
The "Nonó" Stove: A Symbol of Regression
The "nonó" is a rudimentary stove made with compressed sawdust, traditionally used in rural areas for its efficiency and ability to burn for hours on minimal fuel. However, its widespread use in the 21st century is more a sign of the forced regression that countless Cubans face due to the lack of gas, electricity, and basic cooking facilities.
Far from being an isolated anecdote, this scenario paints a picture of the island's ongoing impoverishment. As the priest concludes, it's further evidence that the dictatorship has consigned the people to hardship.
Cuba's Energy Crisis: A Return to Primitive Cooking Methods
Such scenes are not new on social media. In February, the profile La Tijera shared an image of the "nonó" stove with a pointed critique: "The dictatorship has forced the Cuban people to live in the Middle Ages. Without electricity, without potable water, without the resources to meet their basic needs, they have resorted to primitive methods to cook."
The message ended with sarcasm: "And yet, the state media still talks about patriotism, resistance, and loyalty to the Robolution."
Amid one of Cuba's most severe energy crises, more than 9 million people are cooking under precarious, unsanitary, and hazardous conditions, as warned by the Food Monitor Program (FMP), an independent organization monitoring access to basic services on the island for three years.
Widespread Cooking Challenges in Cuban Households
The figure is derived from the analysis of the latest Population and Housing Census of Cuba and FMP's studies, estimating that around 1.7 million households use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), another 2 million rely solely on electricity, and about 220,000 cook with manufactured gas.
The rest of the population is entirely vulnerable to power outages, gas supply disruptions, or primitive cooking methods. With an average of 3 to 4 people per household, more than 9 million Cubans face severe difficulties or complete inability to cook at home, the organization emphasized.
The report notes that with blackouts lasting up to 20 hours daily, families cook whenever there's electricity, regardless of the time. Meals are prepared at dawn, consumed cold or immediately, and many have cut down on daily meals.
Before the recent collapse, 33% of households had already begun skipping meals as a survival strategy, while 25% admitted going to bed hungry. The most dire scenario is the increased use of wood and charcoal for cooking. Thousands of families, unable to use electricity or gas, construct makeshift stoves from recycled materials.
Understanding the Cuban Energy Crisis
What is a "nonó" stove?
A "nonó" stove is a rudimentary cooking device made from compressed sawdust. It is efficient and can burn for hours with minimal fuel, traditionally used in rural areas.
Why are Cubans using "nonó" stoves in the 21st century?
The widespread use of "nonó" stoves today reflects the forced regression due to a lack of basic resources like gas and electricity, pushing many Cubans back to primitive cooking methods.
How has the energy crisis in Cuba affected cooking practices?
The energy crisis has led to blackouts lasting up to 20 hours, forcing families to cook whenever electricity is available, often at inconvenient times, and increasing reliance on wood and charcoal stoves.