Did you know there's a soda inspired by dictator Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution? Named Havana Banana, this drink features Castro's face with a cigar and bananas on its label. Many Cubans in the United States have been startled by this find in recent years.
In June of last year, a Cuban woman shopping in Michigan got quite a shock when she spotted this artisan soda on a store shelf. The beverage sports the slogan "Taste the Revolution." The discovery became a viral sensation on TikTok, thanks to user Heidy Martell, sparking comments like, "That's rat poison," "It's venom," and "I wouldn't drink it even if I were dead."
A Satirical Banana Flavor
Havana Banana is produced by Rocket Fizz, a company known for creating politically satirical drinks. This line of sodas also includes historical and controversial figures such as Vladimir Lenin and Kim Jong-un. According to the product description on SodaPopOnline, which specializes in artisan sodas, the drink is made with pure cane sugar and other natural ingredients. The advertisement invites consumers to "taste the revolution with Fidel Castro's Havana Banana."
The soda's inspiration is humorously tied to a supposed discovery by Fidel Castro in Havana's botanical garden, where he found a banana variety known as 'the Cuban banana.' This flavor became one of Cuba's most popular sodas and is now available once again, the promotional material adds.
Marketing Through Dark Humor
Rocket Fizz has leveraged controversy as a marketing tool. A company spokesperson explained in a Soda Pop Shop article, "Our drinks are meant to be enjoyed and make people think. We're not glorifying or ridiculing anyone; we're simply using humor to draw attention to history and politics."
Among this satirical soda line are drinks with provocative names like Gaddafi’s Cream My People Soda, Kim Jong Un’s Doomsday Lemonade, and Osama Bin Laden’s Seal Ya Later Soda. Another notable example is Leninade, a lemonade featuring Soviet propaganda aesthetics and the slogan: "Get Hammered & Sickled."
Furthermore, the brand has launched Dictator Cola, a series of sodas showcasing various historical dictators on their labels, such as Kim Jong Un Cola and Saddam Hussein Cola. Unlike regular sodas, Havana Banana isn't easily found in mainstream markets but is available in specialized stores and online platforms.
On the Soda Pop Shop website, it sells for $3.99, while on the UK site American Fizz, it’s priced at nearly four British pounds. American Fizz's promotional message underscores the product's satirical tone: “Fidel Castro now has his own soda thanks to Rocket Fizz and their politically satirical pops featuring world-famous dictators! 'Taste the revolution' with this sweet, banana-flavored artisan soda, Havana Banana. Made in the USA with pure cane sugar!”
As expected, the controversy is brewing. Meanwhile, some Cubans insist they wouldn't touch Havana-Banana soda under any circumstances.
Understanding Havana Banana's Controversy
What is Havana Banana soda?
Havana Banana is a politically satirical soda inspired by Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution, produced by Rocket Fizz.
Who manufactures Havana Banana?
Havana Banana is manufactured by Rocket Fizz, a company known for its line of politically satirical beverages.
Where can you purchase Havana Banana?
Havana Banana is available in specialized stores and online platforms like Soda Pop Shop and American Fizz.