CUBA

Country Portfolio
Global Food Drink & Society
Shabih Zara
(F2117) HSHM

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Table of Contents
About Cuba....................................................................................................................................3

Culture of Cuba.............................................................................................................................3

Cuban People, Power Dynamics and its Political State..............................................................4

Cuban Cuisine (Food Exhibition Dishes)....................................................................................6

Exhibition Poster...........................................................................................................................9

Exhibition Stand..........................................................................................................................10

Summary......................................................................................................................................10

References.....................................................................................................................................11

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About Cuba

The islands of Cuba, Isla de la Juventud, and a slew of other smaller islands make up the
Republic of Cuba, or Cuba. Cuba serves as a meeting point between the North Caribbean Sea,
the Gulf of Mexico, and the Atlantic Ocean. Hispaniola (Haiti/Dominican Republic) is located to
the west of Cuba, to the north of Jamaica and the Cayman Islands (Mexico). Havana is the
island's capital and greatest metropolis; however, "Santiago de Cuba" and Camagüey are also
significant cities. 109,884 square kilometres is the official land area of Cuba. At 104,556 square
kilometres, Cuba's main island is the biggest in both the Caribbean and Cuba (40,369 sq mi).
Havana is the Caribbean's most populated country, with a population of more than 12 million
people (Wikipedia).

Havana is the capital city of Cuba, and the currency used there is the Peso. Spanish is the
primary language used there due of the country's numerous ethnic and cultural roots.
Tall mountains and undulating hills cover a third of Cuba. About two-thirds of the island is
lowland plains, where farming is the primary economic activity.

Culture of Cuba

There are indigenous, African, and European influences all across Cuba's diverse culture. Both
the positive and the bad aspects of communism's arrival in the nation have been felt by the
people.

The Ciboney and Guanahatabey tribes were the first to live in Cuba. The Taino people of
Venezuela occupied the island up to a thousand years ago. The island of Taino was conquered by
Spanish soldiers in 1511 and eventually became Spanish territory.

Numerous Taino people were sold into slavery by the Spanish. The primary causes of death were
overwork and diseases imported by Europeans. Sugarcane was grown and harvested by tens of
thousands of African slaves shipped to Cuba. The island of Cuba had declared its independence
from Spain by the year 1902. During the Spanish-American War of 1898, the United States aided
in the island's liberation.

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In contrast, the United States had a substantial influence on the island's history and development.
In 1959, communist revolutionaries headed by Fidel Castro overthrew the government and took
control of the country.
All of Cuba's past can be seen in its food, language, culture, and music. Every day of the year,
Havana seems to be awash in bands. Musicians refer to this as "son," which is a combination of
classical guitar and fast tempos.

The sport of choice in Cuba is not soccer, unlike the majority of Latin American countries.
Baseball season has officially begun! The game of baseball was introduced to Cuba in the mid-
nineteenth century by Americans. Cuba's baseball team is one of the greatest in the world, and
the country has produced several professional baseball players who now play in other countries.

Cuban People, Power Dynamics and its Political State

In authority of Cuba is the notorious Cuban Communist Party, which is famed for its anti-
American policies. The Communist Party of Cuba is the sole recognised political party in Cuba.
Fidel Castro served as Cuba's president, prime minister, and military leader until he stepped
down in February 2008 due to a long illness.

In 2015, the United States reopened its embassy in Cuba, which had been closed since the mid-
19th century when communists gained power in the island country. Diplomats from the United
States are currently stationed in Cuba, where they do business with the country's administration.
In the United States, Cuba soon followed suit (National Geographic).

People in Cuba should be regarded a homogeneous culture. Collectivism favours doing the best
for the collective even if it means sacrificing one's own interests (Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts,
2012).
One of the most compelling arguments for Cuban culture's homogeneity is the communist
government's ability to instil in its people a desire to improve society in general (Brumfield,
Carpenter). Individuals are driven to work together for the greater good of the nation.
Overall, Cubans are extremely proud of their nation's freedom. The social experience in Cuba is
dominated by social groupings, resulting in a homogenous culture.

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Cuban society is dominated by women. In order for a culture to be feminine or masculine, it
must adhere to ideals that promote its professional goals (Schneider, Gruman, and Coutts, 2012).
The value of a Cuban's work is based on social goals, particularly those of communism. Progress
and competition are almost impossible in a country where everyone works for the government.
Women's rights were first enshrined in Cuba after Cuban women signed the Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women. Regardless of what some people
think, Cuba is a women's country. Cuba is short-term oriented, as well as socially cooperative
and female.

We live in a culture that values today's gains over tomorrow's (Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts,
2012). Ultimately, the 4,444 Cubans put their faith in the government, allowing them to focus on
the here and now.

Because individuals breach the law on a daily basis, it is hard to predict what the future will
bring in terms of politics or the economy (Brumfield, Carpenter & Sloan). National communism
and dictatorship tend to impact Cubans' short-term view, much like the collectivist nature.
Additionally, Cuba ranks highly in terms of avoidance of ambiguity and power distance.
Inequality is widely accepted in our society because of factors such as power, wealth, and the
law.

Avoiding high levels of uncertainty reveals how much ambiguity is permitted in society
(Schneider, Gruman, & Coutts, 2012). Once more, the degree to which these traits are present is
strongly influenced by Communism (Brumfield, Carpenter & Sloan, no date). Distinction is
facilitated by the dictatorship's control over nearly every aspect of everyday life in Cuba:
religion, small groups, and communications.

As the caste system in Cuba separates individuals into two categories, the country has a
considerable power gap. This prevents the dictator from having to deal with too much ambiguity
by enforcing the rules with great care.

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If a person commits a crime, they are more likely to be imprisoned or executed. There is less
control over their life since Cubans are used to many things that others prepare in order to
minimise unpredictability. Because they seek to avoid circumstances fraught with uncertainty,
Cubans tend to be cautious and rule-abiding.

Cuban Cuisine (Food Exhibition Dishes)

Ropa vieja, Cuba's national dish, is a delicious dinner with a rich history. It is via this basic,
homey meal that the development of the nation's food and culture over the last half-century is so
poignantly illustrated. Like many of Cuba's best-known cultural traditions, this dish's origins
may be traced back to Spain. An older man who was penniless once tore and cooked his own
garments in order to provide food for his family, according to tradition. During the time he spent
praying over the boiling liquid, a wonderful beef stew was born. More than 500 years ago,
Sephardic Jews from Spain's Iberian Peninsula are credited with inventing the ropa vieja recipe.
Cooking was forbidden on the Sabbath, therefore the Sephardi would prepare a substantial stew
the night before. Later, the meal was brought to the Americas by the Spanish, where it
immediately became famous in the Caribbean islands of Cuba and the Dominican Republic.
Over time, the essential ingredients of ropa vieja have not altered much (Revolución de Cuba,
2015).

Serving: 260 Calories, Prep: 15 mins Servings:

Protein 20 grams, Carbs 6
Cook: 4 hrs
10 grams, fat 16 grams.
Total: 4 hrs 15 mins

1 Vegitable Oil `1 Tablespoon

2 Beef Flank Steak 2 pounds

3 Beef Broth 1 Cup

4 Tomato Suace 8 Ounce

5 Tomato Paste 6 Ounce

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 6 Green Bell Pepper 1

7 Small Onion 1

8 Garlic 2 Cloves

9 Cumin. 1 Teaspoon

10 Cilantro. 1 Teaspoon

11 Olive Oil . 1 Tablespoon

12 White Vinegar . 1 Tablespoon

1. Warm the vegetable oil in a skillet (cast iron or whatever) over medium heat. After a few
minutes of browning on each side, add the flank steak and cook for another 4 minutes.
2. After adding the meat, add the beef broth and tomato sauce to the slow cooker. Using a
whisk, blend the oil and vinegar with the tomato paste and other ingredients (including
the peppers, onions, garlic, cumin, and cilantro). On low heat, cook with the lid on for up
to 10 hours or on high heat for 4 hours.
3. Shred the meat in the slow cooker with two forks.

Churros Recipe

1, All purpose Flour. 1 Cup .

2, Water. 1 Cup.

3. Salt. ⅛ Teaspoon

4, Vegetable Oil 2 Cups

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 5, Caster Sugar 1 Cup

Preperation Method

1. Sift the flour in a mixing bowl while the salted water comes to a boil.
2. Stir the flour quickly for 30 seconds after adding the hot water, or until the dough forms a
ball. Dense, but not sloppy, is the ideal consistency for the dough.
3. If you have a cookie press or churrera, fill it with the dough. Alternatively, you may use a
large zip lock bag or a pastry bag with a cut off corner. Use a tip shaped like a star if you have
one.
4. Spread waxed paper out on a work surface and cut dough into 6-inch-long strips.
5. Add a lot of oil and heat it up.
6. Rotate the dough in the heated oil as soon as the sides begin to become a golden
brown. For a total of around 5 minutes, cook the food (imagine pancakes).
7. Drain as much oil as possible with a spoon, and then place on the sugar-coated dish.
8. Churros will be a near-immediate food item for most people.

Mojito Recipe

Serving: 147 calories, Preparation Time Serves : 2

Protein 0.2 Grams, Carbs
: 10 minutes
5 grams; Fat 0.2 grams.

1 White Sugar 2 teaspoon

2 Lime 4 Wedges

3 Fresh Mint Leaves 4 Sprigs

4 White Rum ½ Cup

5 Club Soda 2 Cups

6 Crushed Ice 2 Cups

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 7 Lime 2 slices (Garnish)

Preparation Method
Add one teaspoon of sugar to each of the two 12-ounce cups. After the lime juice and the lime wedge
have been added to each glass, garnish with two mint sprigs. Pour lime juice and sugar into the glasses,
and then add mint leaves with a spoon or muddler. Crushed ice should fill up about half of each one. Put a
quarter of a cup of rum in each of the glasses you're using. Extra lime wedges should be added to the club
soda before serving.

Exhibition Poster

Exhibition Stand

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Summary
We were assigned the duty of picking several countries and showcasing their culture, cuisine,
and customs as part of our global food, drink, and society project. Posters, stands with suitable
design, and a few of the nation's most popular meals and beverages let us get a better sense for
the country. The poster and stands let us learn about the country's history and information, while
the cuisine presented us with an opportunity to experiment with different flavours and learn
about their cuisine and culture. We were given Cuba, the biggest island in the Caribbean, as a
gift.

References
Darby, M. (2016). My Big Fat Cuban Family. Retrieved from
https://www.mybigfatcubanfamily.com/2016/07/churros-recipe/
Global Edge. (2020). Retrieved from https://globaledge.msu.edu/countries/cuba#:~:text=Cuba
%20is%20an%20island%20country,with%20mountains%20in%20the%20southeast
Masterson, K. P. (2021). All Recipes. Retrieved from
https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/79301/cuban-ropa-vieja/
National Geographic Kids. (2018). Retrieved from
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/geography/countries/article/cuba

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Revolucion de Cuba. (2015). Retrieved from https://www.revoluciondecuba.com/blog/the-ropa-
vieja-story/#:~:text=Ropa%20Vieja%2C%20the%20national%20dish,hungry
%20%E2%80%93%20so%2C%20ropa%20vieja

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