Jorge_drake1992, the Cuban TikTok creator better known as "El Huevito Mantilla," recently delighted his followers with a video showcasing a store in Austin, Texas. To his amazement, he stumbled upon a variety of Cuban products he never expected to find outside of Cuba. “Let me show you this so you can see how we Cubans always manage to find our products wherever we go,” he exclaims with excitement at the start of the video.
In his video, he recounts going out to buy cigarettes for his mother, who has been unable to find her usual "One" brand and has had to settle for alternatives. However, the real surprise came when, in addition to the cigarettes, he discovered typical Cuban treats: the famous “sapitos,” “merenguitos,” “africanitas,” and even the notorious “gazeñiga,” a candy as hard as a rock. With a touch of humor, “El Huevito Mantilla” explains how he plans to bring these treats to his mother, who will probably react with joy... or maybe choke on the “gazeñiga.”
Sharing the Cuban Flavor
The store's address, located at 15424 FM Rd 1825 #250 Pflugerville, TX 78660, is shared in the comments for other Cubans longing for these childhood sweets from the island. Unsurprisingly, the comments poured in. Many followers reminisced about the products with nostalgia and joked about the creator's humor. “You’re hilarious, the last tooth,” one commented; another suggested finding the “Competidora” cigarette, claiming it was the closest to a Cuban one: “Get it for her and she'll remember a local guy.” Others remarked, “How delicious, I love it all but can’t have it, I’m diabetic, enjoy it”; “Brother, where is it?” and “They have everything,” expressing the same joy at seeing Cuban products on U.S. soil.
With laughter, others mentioned the “gazeñiga tranca buche,” and one user said, “Dude, are you trying to knock out her last tooth and drown her with the gazeñiga?” The post also sparked interest among Cubans living in Texas or visiting the area, with some even planning to stop by the store to indulge in nostalgia in the form of Cuban sweets.
Nostalgia Across Borders
This phenomenon of finding Cuban products outside the island is not new. Recently, another Cuban went viral after discovering certain items in a U.S. Walmart that reminded him of his homeland. It's clear: nostalgia and humor remain the strongest connection for Cubans on social media.