A Cuban content creator took to her social media platforms to report a suspected scam by a small business in Matanzas, claiming that a package of La Llave coffee she purchased was not the authentic product.
In a video shared on her TikTok account, entrepreneur Yuliet (@yulietbri), who runs a sales kiosk in Matanzas, expressed her frustration at being deceived by a business she frequently patronizes.
"I was scammed. I was used to being ripped off a lot at La Cuevita in Havana, that was expected, but to be scammed by a small business in Matanzas, where I shop almost daily..." she began her video.
Yuliet recounted buying a box of the well-known La Llave coffee, each package priced at over 2,000 Cuban pesos. However, upon tasting it, she realized the flavor was noticeably off.
"Just one sip of that coffee and it was extremely bitter, nothing like real coffee. A customer told me, 'Sweetheart, this isn't La Llave coffee, it's pure chickpeas,'" she recalled.
In the video, Yuliet displayed the allegedly counterfeit packages, pointing out that despite appearing sealed and having expiry dates, they had suspicious cuts and scratches, as well as a melted seal, which raised doubts about their authenticity.
"The pack, which is supposed to be sealed, looked like the nylon was melted rather than sealed. I didn't notice this when I bought it; I realized after tasting it," she explained.
The entrepreneur refunded her affected customer and decided to use her experience to warn other consumers about fraudulent practices that she claims are widespread across the country.
"My point in making this video is to caution you, whether you're in Matanzas or any other province, not to trust too easily. In Cuba, people are always coming up with schemes," she warned.
In the comments, many users shared similar experiences with products sold by small businesses, while others lamented that "even when paying a high price, you can't trust what you buy in Cuba."
Yuliet's complaint adds to the growing number of grievances on social media about the sale of counterfeit or adulterated products in private businesses throughout the country, amid the ongoing economic crisis and shortages affecting the Cuban population.
Understanding the Coffee Scam in Cuba
What prompted Yuliet to make the video?
Yuliet was motivated to create the video after realizing she was sold counterfeit La Llave coffee by a small business she frequently patronizes in Matanzas.
What was wrong with the coffee Yuliet purchased?
The coffee had an extremely bitter taste, unlike genuine La Llave coffee, leading Yuliet to suspect it was made from chickpeas rather than real coffee beans.
How did Yuliet confirm the coffee was counterfeit?
Upon inspection, Yuliet noticed the packaging had suspicious cuts and a melted seal, which raised doubts about its authenticity.
What has been the reaction to Yuliet's video?
Many users shared similar experiences with counterfeit products, while others expressed frustration over the inability to trust expensive purchases in Cuba.