A TikTok video has surfaced, providing a rare peek into a Cuban salt biscuit factory. In the clip, two women can be seen manually working dough on a flour-dusted metal table, surrounded by unfinished cement block walls and a noticeable lack of modern machinery.
Released on February 23 by the account @de.la.perla.para (Team Perla), the brief 28-second video is tagged with references to Cienfuegos and the Cuban community in Miami. One worker, dressed in a red uniform, wields a wooden rolling pin, while her colleague, in a dark green jacket, works with her back to the camera.
The Harsh Reality of Cuba's Food Industry
These stark images highlight the dire state of Cuba's food industry, which is suffering from a deep structural crisis exacerbated by a chronic wheat flour shortage. During the first half of 2025, the Ministry of Food Industry (MINAL) received just 55% of its planned wheat supply, leading to losses for 17 companies in the sector.
Years of neglect have left wheat mills without significant maintenance. In response to the flour shortage, various state enterprises have turned to alternatives such as cassava, moringa, or corn flour. Some have even resorted to using wood-fired stoves in "production polygons" to make biscuits and other goods.
Impact of the Flour Shortage Across Provinces
The scarcity is felt acutely in Cienfuegos, where in December 2025, the provincial Trade Business Group distributed merely 1 kg of salt biscuits per family as an additional item to the rationed basket. This issue is not confined to Cienfuegos. The La Kary factory in Artemisa, a major biscuit producer, has been idle for over a year due to the lack of flour. A plant manager bluntly stated, "The flour entering and to enter the country is for the basic bread basket," indicating that biscuits are not a priority for importation.
The regime has defended the high prices of biscuits by citing the "shortage of raw materials, mainly wheat flour, whose costs on the international market are rising disproportionately." In April 2023, biscuit packages were being sold for 455 Cuban pesos in Isla de la Juventud, sparking controversy.
Local Solutions and Substitutes
In some provinces, local solutions are being sought. Since 2022, Ciego de Ávila's food company has been making biscuits with cassava flour, and a plant in Cienfuegos' Antonio Maceo Cooperative processes 560 kg of this ingredient daily. Camagüey has also embraced cassava flour for sausages and croquettes.
The TikTok video is part of a growing trend among Cubans, both on the island and abroad, who use social media to document the true conditions of food production. Meanwhile, the regime continues to promise stabilization of the flour supply, with little improvement seen on the ground.
Understanding Cuba's Biscuit Crisis
Why are Cuban factories struggling with production?
Cuban factories face challenges due to a severe shortage of wheat flour, aging infrastructure, and a lack of modern machinery, compounded by economic mismanagement.
What alternatives are being used for biscuit production in Cuba?
To cope with the wheat flour shortage, some Cuban factories are using substitutes like cassava, moringa, or corn flour to continue biscuit production.
How has the flour shortage affected Cuban households?
The shortage has led to limited distribution of biscuits, with provinces like Cienfuegos rationing only 1 kg per family, impacting everyday access to these staple foods.