A young Cuban living in Mexico recently took to social media to share his experience of finding malt beverages, a drink he fondly remembers from his homeland. Surprisingly, these drinks are readily available in Mexico, despite being absent from Cuban store shelves for years.
Michel Crónicas, who shared his video on TikTok (@michelcronicas), detailed his visit to Mercado Medellín in Mexico City. There, he discovered Bucanero malt, a 100% Cuban beverage that he hasn't seen in Cuba for a long time. The malt, produced in Holguín, is priced at 85 Mexican pesos at this market. Michel expressed his amazement, noting that in Cuba, it can only be found in certain hotels and small private businesses.
Michel's partner, who also enjoys the malt drink, reminisced about their struggles to find this national beverage during their vacations in Cuba, often having to settle for imported malts instead. The video concludes with Michel savoring the drink and contemplating how Cuban products, no longer available on the island, are easily found in Mexico.
"Here, at Mercado Medellín, there are Cuban products that no longer exist in Cuba," he commented. Meanwhile, in Cuba, Bucanero malt is scarce, and the regime is busy promoting a new product.
Introducing Malta Guajira: A New Offering Amid Scarcity
Recently, the state-run CARIBE store chain announced the launch of a new malt beverage called "Guajira," produced by Empresa Cervecería Cubana S.A.. This drink aims to captivate consumers with its "authentic and refreshing taste." Malta Guajira is available in 500 ml bottles and is being sold at the 3rd and 70th Shopping Center in Playa, Havana, for $0.70 MLC, according to a post on Facebook by the company.
Nevertheless, social media is awash with posts highlighting Cuban products sold abroad, including in the United States. For instance, Conchita canned goods and Hatuey and Bucanero malts are available in a supermarket in Louisville, Kentucky.