"Today, I'm going to show you how to survive in Cuba," declares TikTok user @darlinmedina93 as she kicks off a video revealing her ingenious methods for cooking in the midst of the island's severe shortages of essential services. The young woman illustrates her struggle against the lack of electricity, domestic gas, and charcoal, sharing her humorous yet resigned solution: cooking with firewood on her balcony.
"This is how a Cuban cooks when there's no electricity, no gas—which is practically non-existent here—and when the famous charcoal runs out," she explains in the video, as she prepares to gather dry branches for fuel. "Well, here we are, folks, collecting firewood because there are no other options. My daughter can't go to bed without eating," she remarks while picking up sticks to light her improvised stove.
Using a makeshift kitchen on her balcony, she opts to make spaghetti, a simple dish that serves as both lunch and dinner. "Something quick, without much hassle," she notes. As she proceeds with the cooking process, she adds seasonings and ham to the pasta, eventually topping it with melted cheese. "Look how delicious, folks! My spaghetti cooked over a wood fire doesn't even taste smoky. It doesn't taste like wood at all; it's delicious and has a homestyle flavor," she proudly states.
The video has sparked numerous reactions on social media, with many expressing admiration for the creativity and resilience of the Cuban people in the face of the country's ongoing energy crisis. For months, Cubans have been enduring lengthy daily power outages, a shortage of liquefied gas and charcoal, and a severe economic crisis that forces millions to improvise to meet basic needs like food.
Surviving Cuba's Energy Crisis
How do Cubans cook without electricity or gas?
Many Cubans resort to using firewood as a fuel source to cook when electricity and gas are unavailable. It's a practical solution that requires gathering dry branches to start a fire.
What challenges do Cubans face due to the energy crisis?
Cubans are grappling with daily power outages, a scarcity of cooking gas and charcoal, and a daunting economic crisis, all of which compel them to find creative ways to fulfill their basic needs, such as cooking meals.