Why it is so tricky to buy a bulb of garlic in Cuba
A shortage, and rising prices, hint at larger problems on the communist island
“IF YOU WANT to make money in Cuba, buy garlic,” says a farmer in Artemisa province, in western Cuba. Garlic, known as “white gold” for its value, is critical to the unique sazón, or seasoning, of Cuban food—which often has to be made with a few ingredients imaginatively thrown together. As with so many things on the communist island, however, it is in short supply. A lack of fertiliser and pesticide makes it especially hard to grow. And it is harvested only once a year, in January.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Crushing disappointment”
From the January 8th 2022 edition
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