A Cuban woman living in Brazil took her mother shopping at a local market, capturing a touching moment that highlights the stark contrast between the abundance found in Brazil and the scarcity experienced in Cuba.
Meysel Pereira shared the video on Facebook, where it quickly garnered over 51,000 views and nearly 2,700 reactions in just a few days.
As Meysel selected meat for their cart, her mother wandered off, completely captivated by the array of products. "I was thinking, 'Where did she go?'" Meysel recounted in the video.
The scene that unfolded was telling: her mother roamed the aisles, wide-eyed at the sight of pork chops, peppers, pumpkins, and fruits, unable to believe what was before her. "Daughter, this is like eye candy, look at this, look at this," she exclaimed at one point in the video.
Emotion peaked when the mother picked up some apples, expressing a sentiment shared by many Cubans: "Look at this, fulfilling my dream, picking apples, everything. This is the best."
In the video, she notes that rice in Cuba cost "over 300 pesos" per pound when she left, a fact that matches the current situation on the island, where rice ranges from 220 to over 400 Cuban pesos per pound in the informal market.
A pound of chicken reaches 800 pesos, oil exceeds 3,600 pesos per liter, and eggs are 150 pesos each.
The outing concluded with an overflowing cart. "She wanted to leave the market with a full cart," Meysel shared at the video's end.
"Everything was new to her. Coming from Cuba and encountering such a variety of foods and so many things in one market left her amazed," Meysel wrote in the post's description.
Such reactions have become a common phenomenon among Cuban emigrants. In August 2026, Cuban singer Mary Martínez was moved to tears upon entering a Brazilian supermarket for the first time, overwhelmed by the availability of items that are practically non-existent in Cuba.
In July of the same year, another Cuban took her parents to a supermarket, resulting in a similarly viral reaction of astonishment.
Independent studies estimate that 96.91% of the Cuban population lacks adequate access to food, and meeting basic needs requires approximately 96,000 pesos per month, significantly higher than the official average salary.
As of 2026, 33.9% of Cuban households reported that at least one member went to bed hungry in the past month.
Food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation reached 36% year-on-year in August 2026, with projections suggesting overall inflation could hover around 25% by year-end.
Understanding Cuba's Economic Struggles Through Personal Stories
Why did the Cuban woman in Brazil record her mother's reaction?
She recorded her mother's reaction to capture the emotional contrast between the abundance in Brazil and the scarcity in Cuba, highlighting a personal and poignant moment.
What products were particularly surprising to the mother?
The mother was particularly surprised by the sight of pork chops, peppers, pumpkins, and fruits, as these items are scarce in Cuba.
How do current food prices in Cuba compare to those mentioned in the video?
According to the video, rice cost over 300 pesos per pound, which aligns with the current informal market rates in Cuba, where prices range from 220 to over 400 pesos per pound.
What broader economic issues does this story highlight about Cuba?
This story highlights the severe scarcity of food and high inflation rates in Cuba, where basic necessities are unaffordable for many, with food inflation reaching 36% year-on-year by August 2026.