Food and Drink

Cuban cuisine is a fusion of Spanish and Caribbean cuisines. Cuban recipes share spices and techniques with Spanish cooking, with some Caribbean influence in spice and flavour.

Restaurants are generally inexpensive although choice can be restricted by shortages. There is a strong emphasis on seafood.

Cuban favourites include:

• roast suckling pig
• thick soups made from chicken and black beans
• baked or fried plantains
• black beans and rice ( moros y cristianos)
• shredded beef (ropa vieja)

Food in tourist hotels adequate, not exciting, but does feature a wide variety of exotic tropical fruit.

Cuban coffee is strong, beer tasty but weak, rum is plentiful and used in cocktails like daiquiris and mojitos.