Cuba's “Special” Coffee Blend

[El Presidente]

Cuba Has No Packaging for its “Special” Coffee Blend

 March 18, 2022

They ask consumers to have patience

For at least the next two months Hola coffee will not be sold in its usual packaging, which has to be imported. (Cubadebate)

By 14yMedio

HAVANA TIMES – Hola-brand coffee, an essential consumer item which can be bought using a ration card (4 ounces per person per month), will available for sale — at least through March and April — in a clear polyethylene sleeve instead of its usual screen-printed bag. Delivery delays of its imported packaging have kept the product off store shelves, so officials have settled on this temporary solution. They made the announcement in order to allay any doubts about the “authenticity” of their coffee, which is mixed with dried peas, something the packaging label does not mention.

The announcement — made to the official press by the director general of Cuba-Cafe, Daniel Cobas Cheda — was not enough to calm public discontent. The statement, first published in Tribuna de la Habana  and later posted on the official website Cubadebate, has generated numerous comments reflecting consumers’ frustration, especially over the island’s heavy dependence on imports, which now also includes the packaging in which coffee is sold.

 

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The former general director of Cuba-Café, Antonio Aleman Blanco, explained in an article in the official press the the formula, “which is no secret, is 50% Arabica or Robusta coffee beans and 50% dried peas.”

[NSXCIGAR]

The press release was important to reassure consumers the product is as fake as it was before.

I am tempted to grind up some peas and see how it tastes though.

[JohnS]

Seriously? This all sounds similar to rationing passages I read as a teenager in George Orwell's book, '1984'! 😳

[Bijan]

35 minutes ago, JohnS said:

Seriously? This all sounds similar to rationing passages I read as a teenager in George Orwell's book, '1984'! 😳

Not sure of the exact history but 1984 was published/written shortly after WW2 during which coffee rationing (and other rationing) was common. I believe ersatz coffee substitutes still have a bit of a following in many European countries (chicory, etc.). I last had some when visiting a Swiss friend. And I remember a reference to the adults drinking chicory coffee in Anne Frank's diary.

[Fuzz]

1 hour ago, Bijan said:

Not sure of the exact history but 1984 was published/written shortly after WW2 during which coffee rationing (and other rationing) was common. I believe ersatz coffee substitutes still have a bit of a following in many European countries (chicory, etc.). I last had some when visiting a Swiss friend. And I remember a reference to the adults drinking chicory coffee in Anne Frank's diary.

Chicory coffee is still popular, and gaining popularity as a coffee alternative with the health conscious. I had some when I was in New Orleans where is it quite common. Cafe du Monde is famous for their coffee and chicory blend.

[NSXCIGAR]

6 hours ago, Fuzz said:

Chicory coffee is still popular, and gaining popularity as a coffee alternative with the health conscious. I had some when I was in New Orleans where is it quite common. Cafe du Monde is famous for their coffee and chicory blend.

Yes, chicory is definitely still used. In fact a friend of mine is a prison guard and they give it to inmates. 

He brought me a couple packets once and I tried it. Awful. Tasted like the root that it is. 

Is it ever brewed or is it always consumed in instant form? That may be why Cuba doesn't use it since they want brewable grounds. I also wouldn't be surprised if peas were cheaper than chicory.

[BrightonCorgi]

Soylent Green for dinner again?

[Bijan]

7 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Is it ever brewed or is it always consumed in instant form? That may be why Cuba doesn't use it since they want brewable grounds. I also wouldn't be surprised if peas were cheaper than chicory.

It seems it can be brewed in a drip machine, French press, or used in an espresso machine, etc. But typically it is added to boiling water, and after it is ready, you wait for the coffee to settle at the bottom, and pour the liquid from the top (at least that's how I've had it).

Cursory search reveals that chicory root is about $1,000 per ton (though I saw prices as low as $170 and as high as $2400, depending on whether you look in the producing countries or the consuming countries). And peas are in the range $200 to $500. So yes peas are indeed cheaper.

But just as likely Cuba already had a supply or source of peas, and they didn't want to bother sourcing chicory.

[DixeyJ]

Side note to the above, but my father in law (an airline pilot - now retired) always used to bring back coffee beans from Café El Escorial in Havana. Some of the best coffee I've ever had and miss it terribly. Anyone else had that?

[NSXCIGAR]

On 3/20/2022 at 1:15 AM, Bijan said:

But just as likely Cuba already had a supply or source of peas, and they didn't want to bother sourcing chicory.

Even if Cuba had chicory they'd export it all if peas were cheaper. That's how I knew peas had to be cheaper than chicory. 

 

On 3/19/2022 at 8:43 AM, JohnS said:

Seriously? This all sounds similar to rationing passages I read as a teenager in George Orwell's book, '1984'! 😳

Very similar--recall Victory Coffee? 

[JohnS]

23 hours ago, NSXCIGAR said:

Very similar--recall Victory Coffee? 

Yes, good point! 👍