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In the market in Old Havana (Habana Vieja)- in the foreground Malanga and behind it Boniato. Both are starchy roots similar to the potato. |
Cuba lies within the tropics. Unlike the four seasons that most North Americans know, there are only two seasons in Cuba. The rainy season lasts from May to October and the dry season from November to April. The temperature averages between 71º F in winter and 82º in summer. Crops can be planted all year round in Cuba.
Because of its climate, Cuba produces some crops unfamiliar to many North Americans. It is always important to remember that, when you visit a foreign culture, you will be exposed to foods that might be quite unusual. Keeping an open mind and trying new foods will enhance your experience overseas.
Although they are available, potatoes do not form as large a part of the diet of Cubans as they do in North America or Europe. Instead Cubans consume other starchy foods such as the yucca (or manioc or cassava - below and below middle), malanga (a starchy root crop - see above and below right - sometimes called taro, like a potato), boniato (yam or sweet potato - below right), plátano (plantain or banana) or rice. Corn also grows well in Cuba. It is planted in May and shares the field alternately with tobacco which is planted in November.
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Yucca is cooked like a potato and has a similar taste and texture. |
Yucca growing in a field in the Pinar del Rio region of western Cuba. |
The Cuban climate also produces many different kinds of fruits for example coconuts, pineapples, oranges, melons, plátanos (like a banana of which there are several kinds), mangos, avocados, papayas, limes. These fruits can be seen in American supermarkets. There are other fruits grown as well that are perhaps a bit less well known to the average North American such as guava, tamarind, mamey sapote, jackfruit, and mamoncillo just to name a few. Certain fruits do not grow in Cuba such as apples and cherries. Why do you think this might be?
A variety of fruits - clockwise starting in the upper left - guava, coconut, pineapple, mango, platanitos and mamey. |
mangos |
plátanos in the market |
jackfruit |
mamoncillos |
plátanos growing on the tree |
Coffee is also grown in Cuba and is a very popular drink. It is typically drunk very strong and very sweet in small espresso cups. Sometimes it is mixed with lots of milk into a latte. Below one can see someone enjoying a small cup of coffee, coffee beans growing on the tree, and "Cubita," the most well-known Cuban coffee.
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Historically Cuba's most important crop has been and still is sugar cane. Molasses, rum, and of course sugar are produced from sugar cane s een growing below right.
Cuba produced the most sugar in 1988/1989 (8.1 million tons). After this time and the collapse of Cuba's major trading partner, the Soviet Union, sugar production fell sharply. The Sugar Ministry plans to produce 2.7 million tons in 2003.
Christopher Columbus brought sugar cane to the new world during his second voyage in 1493. In order to provide workers to the sugar plantations, over 1 million Africans were torn from their homeland - mostly in present day Nigeria - and kidnapped to Cuba to work under awful conditions. These slaves brought with them not only their religious beliefs (see Santería), but also some eating habits which have flavored the cuisine of Cuba.
