A Cuban mother became the center of attention in a viral Facebook video, where she humorously expressed her bafflement over food items received from a humanitarian donation from Mexico, referring to one item as "edible Styrofoam."
She showed her friends and followers a package of amaranth, a cereal largely unknown in Cuba, and sought advice on its identity and potential culinary uses.
The video, shared by the account "Azucar Cuba," has garnered nearly 450,000 views and over 2,200 comments.
In the clip, the woman, who has a three-year-old daughter, displays the three donated items: a can of tuna, a package of María cookies, and the mysterious amaranth package.
"What the heck is this? I have no idea. It says amaranth. Folks, is this even edible? Because it looks like Styrofoam," she quipped, holding the package with evident confusion.
Her humorous comparison to electronic packing material highlights a cultural disconnect: amaranth, with its fluffy texture and granular appearance, is not part of the Cuban diet nor commonly available on the island.
The mother quickly imagined the digestive consequences for her young child: "Remember those Styrofoam peanuts that come in boxes to protect electronics? I can already see my daughter pooping little pellets."
She concluded with a playful invitation: "Share the video. Let’s find out what the heck this is, right? Because I honestly have no clue."
The video also includes a mention of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, using a playful nickname that has gained popularity among Cubans: "Claudia Shampoó."
Amaranth is a pseudo-cereal with mesoamerican roots, boasting over 7,000 years of history in Mexico, where it is commonly consumed toasted, cooked like oatmeal, or mixed into soups and salads.
With a protein content ranging from 9 to 14 grams per 100 grams, amaranth is highly nutritious, though its unfamiliar appearance and texture may bewilder those who have never encountered it before.
The video emerges amidst a series of humanitarian shipments from Mexico to Cuba, starting February 12, when the first delivery of 814 tons of food arrived.
Since then, under Claudia Sheinbaum's administration, at least four official shipments have been dispatched via Mexican Navy vessels, totaling over 4,000 tons of rice, beans, sugar, lentils, powdered milk, cookies, tuna, amaranth, medications, and solar panels.
Distribution through state-run stores, recorded in ration books, has been inconsistent.
Journalist Vladimir Turró Páez reported on Tuesday that a child in the Calleja neighborhood received only a package of María cookies and two cans of tuna. "That's all that arrived," he noted.
The Ministry of Domestic Trade (MINCIN) announced that recipients have 30 days to collect the items from the time of arrival.
The Cuban mother’s video featuring amaranth humorously underscores the cultural gap between donors and recipients, while also highlighting the depth of a crisis where 36% of Cuba's population faces food insecurity after 67 years of communist dictatorship.
Understanding the Cuban Food Crisis
What sparked the viral reaction of the Cuban mother?
The Cuban mother reacted humorously and with confusion to a package of amaranth, a cereal unfamiliar to most Cubans, leading to a viral video on social media.
Why is amaranth unfamiliar to Cubans?
Amaranth is not part of the traditional Cuban diet and is not commonly available on the island, leading to confusion when it was received as part of the Mexican donation.
What is the significance of the Mexican donations to Cuba?
The donations, which include various food items and essentials, aim to alleviate food shortages and support the Cuban population amidst severe economic and political challenges.