Tabaco cubano!
Unsurprisingly, Cuban cigars top the list of products most coveted by visitors to the island. Did you know that France is the world's second-largest consumer of Havana cigars, just after Spain and ahead of Switzerland and Great Britain, with some 10 million cigars consumed every year? However, to avoid disappointment, it's best to be cautious when buying cigars in Cuba. Cigars are frequently offered on the street, at unbeatable prices. Don't be fooled! If they're not simply fake, they may have been stolen from one of the island's tobacco factories, and may not have passed all the required quality controls. Moreover, Cuban customs, one of whose missions is to ensure the prestige of national production, has the right to demand an invoice from the store. Should you be asked for such an invoice and fail to provide it, customs officials have the right to confiscate your merchandise. As a reminder, you can only take 50 cigars in your luggage.
To ensure a quality purchase, here are a few brands and sizes of prestigious Cuban cigars to keep in mind: Cabinet Royal Sélection, Cohiba Lanceros, Cohiba Especial, Montecristo n°1, Montecristo n°4, Hoyo de Monterrey, Sir Winston, Montecristo Habana Especial, Montecristo Joyitos, Partagas and Trinidad. How can I be sure of buying an authentic product? There are three things to bear in mind, all of which have been compulsory on cigar boxes since 1912, and which guarantee the authenticity of the merchandise. Firstly, the cigar box must bear a green band representing the country's national coat of arms and a view of the plantations. Secondly, the box's contents must be written in several languages (Spanish, French, German and English), flanked by the Habanos logo indicating the tobacco's origin, itself preceded by a stylized representation of the tobacco leaf below which must appear the inscription Unidos desde 1492. Finally, the bottom of the tin should bear the words Hecho en Cuba . As a guide, a Cohiba Lancera should cost you no more than €1, i.e. €25 for the tin. When it comes to tobacco quality, trust your sense of smell! While cigars can be purchased just about anywhere on the island, the factories in the Viñales valley are good places to go. In Havana, fabricas (Upmann, La Corona, Partagás, Romeo y Julietta) are good places to buy cigars at official prices. The Casa del Habano boutique(Habana Vieja and Varadero) is also recommended.
To find out more about tobacco in general and cigars in particular, refer to Didier Houvenaghel's remarkable book: Le Cigare (éditions du Gerfaut - May 2005). The www.museedufumeur.net website is also a mine of information, as is the famous magazine Havanoscope, an expert on Cuban cigars but perhaps a little specialized for novices.
Rum and other Cuban delicacies
What better accompaniment to a good cigar than a tasty Cuban rum? Of course, rum is the island's other star product. And rum lovers are not mistaken: Cuban production enjoys a worldwide reputation, and some of its bottles are among the best on the market! Renowned for its sweet, light notes and lower alcohol content (around 38°, when the rest of the Caribbean easily exceeds 40°), it will seduce even the most sensitive palates. The main ingredient in the island's emblematic cocktails - the political Cuba Libre and the freshly minted Mojito - it subtly perfumes the compositions of bartenders in Havana and beyond. But Cuban rum can also be drunk neat or on the rocks!
While a 3-year-old rum will be sufficient for a cocktail, prefer bottles over 5 years old for a pure tasting experience. If Havana Club has been shining on the world for decades - visit the Museo del Ron in the Habana Vieja district -, you should know that many other top-quality rums are produced on the island: Mulata, Santiago de Cuba (Anejo), Legendario (Elixir de Cuba) being the most famous. Please note! While Cuban customs allow three bottles per person to leave the country, French customs will only let in one bottle over 22°!
Cigars, rum... All weneed is coffee and we've got a trifecta! If Europe isn't used to drinking Cuban coffee, this isn't due to a lack of quality, but rather quantity! Cuban coffee is tasty but rare, making it a precious commodity. It is produced to feed local consumption, and is readily available in stores across the island. The Cubita brand offers attractive packaging for gifts for your loved ones!
Although Cuban chocolate is produced locally, it is no less delicious. To find a few bars or powdered sachets, you'll have to go all the way to Baracoa, where chocolate is the specialty! It's not certain that the bars will stand up to the tropical heat, so opt for powdered chocolate instead.
Another Cuban delicacy: honey! You can find it on the farm stalls of the island's markets, from Havana to Santiago de Cuba, generally for €2 to €5. Natural and additive-free, it's sure to convert even the most reluctant. Although not edible, we should mention the mariposa, also known as the "jasmine butterfly", a flower originally from India that has developed so well in Cuba that it has become one of the island's symbols. It is easily found in perfumes, lotions and eau de toilette.
Crafts, trinkets and paint
While there's nothing particularly exceptional about Cuban handicrafts, you'll be able to pick up a few knick-knacks, pottery, jewelry and other well-crafted recycled items. There are a number of craft markets in the capital, such as the one in Havana harbour, a stone's throw from the San Francisco de Paula church. Here, as in other markets on the island, you'll find wooden or coconut sculptures of monkeys, birds and other exotic animals, as well as ceramic objects such as plates, ashtrays, cups...
Recycled objects are a recurrent feature in Cuba, a veritable national sport. You'll find gadgets made from beer cans, jewelry made from shells or melon seeds, and dolls made from fabric scraps. For those interested, some stalls sell ritual objects and comprehensive books on santería. Of course, you'll also be able to pick up a whole host of little tourist trinkets bearing the image of Cuba, which are always appreciated as small gifts: magnets, mugs, key-rings... Havana is a veritable Eldorado in this respect. All the vintage and revolutionary imagery of Cuba can be found here: Che Guevara or Havana Club t-shirts, license plates, Cuban flags, old postcards... there's no shortage of choice. More sociological, a copy of the Cuban constitution! Finally, the great Cuban classic: the guayabera, the loose white cotton shirt typical of the island. They're everywhere. The traditional model? Mother-of-pearl buttons, two front pleats, three back pleats, two breast pockets and two belly pockets.
Cuba is famous for its painting. Throughout the island, you'll find numerous art galleries, Havana being the city where you'll find the most. Although controlled by the regime, the production of paintings is strongly encouraged by it, allowing buyers to make a few acquisitions without breaking the bank. The Habana Vieja crafts market is a recommended address, as are the many art galleries in the colonial town of Trinidad, which showcase local artists.
Music
If you're a musician, Cuba is in many ways a blessed land. Music is everywhere and at all times on the island, but it is the Oriente region that is the cradle of Cuban music. Every year, Santiago de Cuba celebrates one of the most famous carnivals in the Caribbean. If you're looking for authentic Cuban musical instruments, this is the place to go! Of course, there's also the question of how bulky a musical instrument will be on the return journey. From giant drums to maracas or guiro, there's plenty of room! In any case, it's well worth a visit to MuseoEl Carnaval (Calle Heredia). There are instrument sellers at the entrance, as well as the stand of the artist in charge of designing the carnival posters every year.
If you're not a musician, but rather a music lover, head for the Artex and Casas de la Música stores! Don't hesitate to ask the salespeople for advice, as they'll be happy to help you find CDs and vinyls, and even play them for you. Although MP3s are in circulation in Cuba, the only way to bring back music is still by CD. All street artists and bars sell theirs, and music stores sell only CDs and a few vinyls. The development of digital technology has made it easier for small local bands to produce CDs of good quality. If you're a music lover, don't hesitate to bring some back to discover (and spread the word about) the island's abundant musical diversity! All styles of Latin music are played and listened to on the island: són, salsa, reggaeton, rumba... Musical productions from the rest of the Caribbean and from the USA are also very popular with Cuban youth, and you'll have no trouble picking up CDs of more modern music here and there. If you decide to buy your CDs on the street, ask to try them out first!
