In Santiago de Cuba, Father Leandro NaunHung, a well-known Catholic priest recognized for sharing various "tools" to cope with the economic crisis, has introduced a novel idea of "creative resistance": sweetening coffee with sugarcane juice. "We're going to make guarapo for coffee," he announced on Facebook, accompanied by a video showing a man extracting the sweet juice using an unusual technique.
NaunHung expressed his surprise at the man's method of striking the center of a sugarcane stalk with a thick stick. Skillfully, the man then splits the cane and, much like wringing out a sheet, twists it to release the nectar into a jug. "I didn't know that technique," the priest remarked as he watched the man repeat the process on several cane segments: striking, bending, and squeezing to extract the liquid.
Afterward, the extracted guarapo was mixed with water to brew coffee using a traditional filter. "It lacks powder," NaunHung commented after taking several sips, but he acknowledged, "It's good."
Alternatives in Times of Scarcity
Amid the severe shortage of food and basic goods in Santiago de Cuba, NaunHung has also shared another traditional coffee alternative known as "the coffee of the poor," made from platanillo seeds. The priest, dedicated to empowering rural communities in Santiago de Cuba during the ongoing economic crisis, brought attention on Facebook to this little-known tradition, which is common in the region due to the scarcity of conventional coffee.
The video includes a conversation with a local resident, discussing how the plant known as "platanillo" is utilized as "the coffee of the poor," a substitute many locals have adopted in challenging times.
Understanding Creative Solutions in Cuba's Economic Crisis
What is guarapo?
Guarapo is a sweet juice extracted from sugarcane, traditionally consumed in many parts of Latin America.
Why is sugarcane juice used to sweeten coffee in Santiago de Cuba?
Due to the shortage of sugar in Santiago de Cuba, locals have turned to sugarcane juice as an alternative sweetener for coffee.
What is "the coffee of the poor"?
"The coffee of the poor" is a coffee substitute made from platanillo seeds, used by locals in Santiago de Cuba when traditional coffee is unavailable.