OrangeSmile Tours Best destinations around the world - Travel Guide
Cuba

National cuisine of Cuba for gourmets. Authentic recipes, delicacies and specialties

Cuban cuisine is an interesting combination of Spanish and African traditions. For a long time, Spanish colonizers owned Cuba, and slaves from different parts of Africa were working hard on local plantations. These people made up the majority of Cuba’s population. Their food preferences formed Cuban cuisine that is somewhat similar to the cuisine of the rest of the Caribbean. Here are some of the most popular dishes in Cuba: Croquetas – roll-shaped roasted cheese with ham, Ropa Vieja – shredded beef meat stewed with tomatoes, and Arroz Con Pollo – seasoned rice with chicken and Sofrito sauce. Moors and Christians is an unusual and popular local dish that is often served as a garnish. Rice and black beans create a striking color contrast.
Cuba has a truly enchanting nature and keeps inspiring people with its signature revolutionary spirit. Local people are very hospitable and kind, but …
Read further
Sauce is an essential part of all local dishes. There are many different types of sauces in Cuba. Garlic, pepper, tomatoes, onion, olive oil, orange juice, lime juice, oregano, papaya, mango, and banana – these are typical ingredients in local sauces. Other vegetables and fruits can be used with fragrant spices to add a special flavor to local dishes. Sour and sweet, sweet, hot, and spicy sauces are a perfect addition to any food. Local chefs use them to make their food unique and unforgettable. Sauces can be served with both first course and second-course dishes. The absence of sauce on the table is exceptionally rare. Despite a great variety of sauces, there are not many hot ones in Cuba.
Cubans adore sweets. The names of local sweets are usually unfamiliar to Europeans, but desserts are delicious and raise the mood. In short, it is worth trying them. Here are some of the traditional desserts that Cubans like: Pastelitos patty cakes filled with guava, pineapple, coconut, or cheese; Tres Leches – a milk biscuit with cream, condensed and baked milk; Flan, a sweet and salty pie with custard, eggs, and cinnamon. Different pies with coconut and orange or guava are also popular here, as well as fruit desserts with cheese. Coffee and sweets are great souvenirs that tourists can bring from Cuba to treat their friends and relatives. Copyright www.orangesmile.com
It doesn’t matter what time of the year you choose to visit Cuba, you will certainly come in time for some holiday or celebration. Indeed, there are …
Read further
All sweet-tooths will greatly admire their visit to Museo del Chocolate. This venue is a great place to try coffee and chocolate. Every combination is unique because of different types of chocolate (black and white) and various flavors that add different shades of taste – sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and neutral. As it is not hard to understand from the name, this café is also a museum of chocolate where visitors can learn about the history of chocolate. On a hot day, it is particularly pleasant to eat ice cream. For this purpose, consider visiting Coppelia ice cream parlors that offer delicious ice cream that is popular with tourists. During your stay on the tropical island, do not forget about fruits and fruit juices. The names of some fruits sound very exotic – cherimoya, maranon, and soursop. Cuba is a great place to try them.
Fans of alcoholic cocktails will genuinely enjoy their vacation in Cuba. The majority of local alcoholic cocktails contain Cuban rum, and this fact already makes them attractive to tourists. Cubans love their rum and cocktails with it such as Daiquiri, Mojito, Cuba Libre (Free Cuba), and Mulata. Havana Club is one of the most popular cocktails. It is usually served with ice, but true connoisseurs do not dilute it. There are three main types of Cuban rum, namely, Anejo, Carta Blanca, and Carta Oro. They all have different tastes that depend on the maturation time and ingredients. If you want to learn more about the process of making rum in Cuba, consider visiting the local rum museum. This establishment gives an insight into the technology of producing the popular spirit.
Fans of hiking will be pleased with an opportunity to explore Cuba’s national reserves that are located on the main island and several small ones. …
Read further
Local bananas, plantain or cooking banana, also known as plátano in Spanish, only look like the ordinary sweet bananas that are always on the shelves of European supermarkets. Plantain is harder and starchier. In the Caribbean region, plantain is considered a vegetable same as potato. Cooking banana is never eaten raw – this is a popular garnish to meat dishes. Plantain chips are also very popular. Sweetened and roasted plantain is the main ingredient of Plantain Maduros – a popular dessert that is similar to soft candy. It is definitely worth trying it. Bananas are so widespread in Cuban cuisine that dishes with them are separated into a standalone category – Fufu.
El Chanchullero de tapas is a popular restaurant where tourists can enjoy delicious and affordable food. The venue is located in Old Havana, not far from the Capitol. Cozy décor, quality food, a broad range of cocktails and beer, surprisingly cheap coffee – this restaurant is a smart choice for a pleasant lunch or dinner together with friends. Pay your attention to the size of dishes – the portions are big just like cocktails. One dish is often enough to feel full, so do not order much right from the start. It is better to order dishes one by one. In Floridita bar, visitors can drink with Hemingway himself! Well, with the statue of the famous writer that is installed in the hall. Ernest Hemingway enjoyed visiting this bar and often competed with other visitors in terms of the number of Daiquiri cocktails that they can drink. Needless to say, the writer was often the winner in such contests. El Templete is a prestigious restaurant, so the prices are more expensive here. The venue is open in a popular tourist district and offers striking views of the capital’s port area. This is an incredibly attractive establishment, so it is worth visiting El Templete at least once.
These spots really worth the attention of a real traveler-researcher. …
Read further
It is always so pleasant to look at the city from the 11th floor while enjoying a delicious meal. Porto Habana restaurant, which is open in the district of Vedado, offers this opportunity to its guests. The building looks quite ordinary from the outside, but the dining hall has exquisite décor. If you book a table on the terrace in advance, you will find yourself in an excellent observation point. Together with delicious lamb, mutton, or fish with fine wine and amazing desserts, you will get a pleasant and unforgettable evening. A dinner Habana 61 will be more budget-friendly. The dining hall is quite small and has a modest design, but well-made meat and seafood dishes of Caribbean and European cuisines definitely make visitors forget about all drawbacks. Popular cocktails with rum can make any evening more romantic.
Cuba guide chapters 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11

Fantastic City Tours and Excursions in Cuba

Country maps Maps of Cuba
Car rental on OrangeSmile.com Car rental in Cuba
Map of cities Cities map of Cuba

Thailand Relaxes Its COVID-19 Policy

New Year events in Thailand are likely to bring more people this year because everyone is tired of lockdowns and craving normal life. Many tourists, who book hotels in Pattaya, Krabi, or Phuket for the holiday season, also want to participate. As champagne has become an essential drink for New Year celebrations, the question regarding alcohol consumption comes to mind. The government allowed serving alcoholic drinks during the New Year countdown but only open-air cafes and restaurants with good ventilation will be permitted to do this until 1 am on 1 January 2022. This rule is nationwide. Read this

28.03.2024

Sights of Cuba - photostream

OrangeSmile.com - online travel reservation expert providing reliable car rental and hotel booking services. We feature more than 25.000 destinations with 12.000 rental offices and 200.000 hotels worldwide.
Secure Server
Head office
Weegschaalstraat 3, Eindhoven
5632 CW, The Netherlands
+31 40 40 150 44


Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | About us
Copyright © 2002 - OrangeSmile Tours B.V. | OrangeSmile.com | Under the direction and management of IVRA Holding B.V. - Registered at Kamer van Koophandel (KvK), The Netherlands No. 17237018