A Cuban woman residing in the United States took to TikTok to share the culinary "trauma" her mother is experiencing since arriving in the country. In the video, she explained that her mother, who recently immigrated from Cuba, finds the food tasteless—a sentiment she herself once shared: "In Cuba, we cooked with whatever we had, and the food tasted great. Here, you add everything, and it still tastes like nothing, my dear."
Melissa, the creator of the video and known on TikTok as (@meloncitalafaraonayeyeo), mentioned that she's now teaching her mom how to cook in the U.S. She explained that in America, it takes twice the seasoning to achieve anything similar to the flavors of Cuba: "Here, you cook a steak, and it doesn't smell like anything; if you don't season it, it tastes like nothing. It's like eating a piece of meat that's been thawed and frozen 20 or 30 times and has lost all its flavor."
She also highlighted that food in Cuba was better-tasting even with fewer ingredients and noted, "If you don't add a bit of pork fat, it tastes like absolutely nothing, my dear." The video has sparked reactions from many Cubans abroad who shared their own experiences. Some agreed, citing that "Food in Cuba is organic, while here it's overly processed"; "I've been here for eight years, and the pork still can't compare"; "In Cuba, you ate with hunger, and anything tasted good."
Others, however, had different opinions: "Everything tastes the same to me; I never went through that"; "I cook with just salt and pepper, and everything turns out delicious"; "If you buy fresh meat and use natural seasoning, the food is spectacular." Some even attributed the flavor differences to cooking methods in Cuba: "Over there, there was time to cook slowly, here everything is rushed"; "The meat here is frozen and loses its flavor."
The debate remains open among Cubans, with some agreeing that "nothing tastes the same" and others believing it's all about adaptation. Have you ever experienced something similar?
Understanding Cuban Culinary Adaptation in the U.S.
Why does food in the U.S. taste different to some Cubans?
Many Cubans find U.S. food less flavorful due to differences in seasoning and cooking methods. In Cuba, food often relies on organic ingredients and slow cooking, while U.S. food can be more processed and requires more seasoning to enhance flavor.
How can Cubans adjust to cooking in the U.S.?
Cubans can adapt by using more seasoning, choosing fresh meats, and experimenting with natural flavors. Understanding local ingredients and adjusting cooking techniques can help replicate traditional Cuban tastes.