A Cuban mother residing on the island has taken to TikTok to reveal the daily challenges she faces in cooking for her daughter amid a severe shortage of gas, electricity, and charcoal. She describes how she's often forced to ignite wood in the early hours when her daughter requests milk, despite the smoke, soot, and her own exhaustion. "Cubans are trapped in the past; we still lack development," says user @darlinmedina93. She highlights that while people in other countries cook with gas or electricity, she only has access to a small electric pot or a bit of gas, but these are rarely usable due to the ongoing shortages.
When charcoal runs out, her only option is to turn to wood. "I know you might say cooking with wood is delightful, and I agree, it's fine for a country house once a year. But it's not easy, my dear, to wrestle with cooking every day using charcoal and wood, filling your house with soot and suffocating smoke," she emphasizes. This struggle intensifies in the early morning hours when her daughter asks for milk. "Having to get up at two in the morning to cook on a wood fire, my dear, when you've lived through that, then come tell me cooking with wood is delightful," she states in her video.
She adds, "I do it with pride because my daughter can't go without eating, and she certainly can't miss her bottle of milk." Her post garnered hundreds of comments, many critiquing her appearance. To the naysayers, she responds, "Come live in Cuba, where a gas canister on the street costs over $100 because the state doesn't provide it. I'd have to save for over a year by not doing my nails to buy gas. Before you spew venom, get informed." In another comment, she asserts, "Cuban women have a lot of self-love; despite difficulties, we care for ourselves and make time because we are women too."
@darlinmedina93 has shared additional posts depicting her daily life. In July, she showcased her breakfast: bread with oil and garlic. "Eating bread with oil and garlic today is a luxury, as some don't even have bread, let alone garlic to season their food," she noted. She also shared how she had to wash clothes in a river due to the lack of water and electricity: "I had to go to the river to wash, which was a bit dirty, but I solved my problem."
These accounts resonate with similar situations reported across various provinces in Cuba. In Holguín, a mother was captured cooking with wood in the middle of a street. In Las Tunas, entire communities reportedly rely solely on wood for cooking. Organizations like the Food Monitor Program have warned that more than nine million Cubans lack stable access to gas or electricity, with the energy crisis driving increased tree-felling for wood, worsening deforestation.
The scarcity has driven many to concoct makeshift solutions. In Cumanayagua, a young man started creating charcoal stoves from broken rice cookers to aid neighbors during power outages. Meanwhile, charcoal prices have soared to 3,000 pesos in some areas, as reported by citizens. Even the state-run newspaper Girón published a photo report acknowledging that many Cubans resort to makeshift stoves due to the lack of gas and electricity. "Without energy to power pressure cookers and induction stoves, people must resort to gas; however, not everyone has a contract for it," the outlet noted.
Another Cuban user, identified as @una.cubana.de.el, shared in April her struggles with cleaning soot-covered pots after cooking with charcoal. "Another morning with heavy sleep and raccoon-like dark circles, thanks to my friend, the blackout," she recounted.
The testimony of @darlinmedina93 adds to a chorus of voices illustrating how domestic life in Cuba is severely impacted by the energy crisis, where cooking each day is an ordeal shaped by scarcity and improvisation.
Cuban Resource Shortage: Key Questions and Answers
What are the main challenges Cubans face in cooking daily?
Cubans often face severe shortages of gas, electricity, and charcoal, forcing many to cook with wood. This leads to issues like smoke, soot, and increased effort, especially during early morning hours when children need feeding.
How is the energy crisis affecting Cuban households?
The energy crisis in Cuba has led to a lack of consistent access to gas and electricity, pushing many households to rely on wood and charcoal for cooking. This contributes to deforestation and increased hardships for families.
What solutions are people improvising in Cuba due to these shortages?
Cubans are crafting makeshift cooking solutions, such as building charcoal stoves from broken appliances, to cope with frequent power outages and fuel shortages.