In the town of Manicaragua, located in Villa Clara, government-run stores are selling caldosa as a "nutritious and traditional alternative given the current circumstances," according to a post shared on Sunday by the official Facebook account "Soy Villa Clara."
The staff at the "La Quinta" sales point, situated in the Manicaragua 3 Popular Council, are tasked with distributing the soup to the community, as mentioned in the post tagged with #VillaClaraConTodos.
The official statement indicates that this is not just a one-time event. The use of the word "continues" suggests that selling caldosa in Manicaragua's stores is a regular practice that has been gradually spreading throughout the town.
This initiative uses the regime's typical rhetoric to reframe scarcity as tradition: presenting an emergency dish as a "nutritious option" when state-run stores in many provinces barely provide rice, sugar, and peas, with no meat, oil, or flour available.
This pattern is neither new nor unique to Villa Clara. In March 2026, the "Jagüey Bonito" store in Manicaragua donated caldosa to expectant mothers at the local Maternal Home, an action that drew criticism on social media for highlighting scarcity rather than solidarity.
In March 2025, the government in Santiago de Cuba offered caldosa and tea as bread substitutes amidst a wheat flour shortage that also affected Matanzas and Cienfuegos.
In April 2026, the La Dominica Hotel in Cárdenas distributed caldosa every Sunday to those in need during the food crisis, and in December 2025, residents of Mulgoba prepared caldosa for those without a Christmas Eve dinner due to inflated prices and shortages in markets.
This narrative was tested at the ministerial level in July 2025 when the Minister of Domestic Trade, Betsy Díaz Velázquez, proposed plantain croquettes and a "base broth" as culinary alternatives to shortages, sparking strong public criticism.
Caldosa is a traditional Cuban dish, a thick soup similar to ajiaco, made with meats, tubers, and vegetables, historically linked to popular celebrations and neighborhood events.
Its systematic presence in state-run stores as a "nutritious alternative" represents a symbolic shift: from festive meal to emergency substitute.
The depth of the food crisis underlying these initiatives is evident in the statistics: the Food Monitor Program reports that 96.91% of the Cuban population lacks adequate access to food, and the "En Cuba Hay Hambre 2025" survey revealed that 33.9% of households had at least one member go to bed hungry in the past year.
As of the end of this week, Havana had gone two months without meat or minced meat for children in the stores, further highlighting the collapse of the supply system that the regime tries to mask with caldosas and hashtags.
Understanding the Cuban Food Crisis
What is caldosa?
Caldosa is a traditional Cuban dish, resembling a thick soup or stew, typically made with meats, tubers, and vegetables, and associated with community celebrations.
Why is caldosa being sold in state-run stores?
Caldosa is being sold as a "nutritious and traditional alternative" amid severe food shortages, as the government attempts to reframe scarcity as tradition by offering this emergency dish.
How severe is the food crisis in Cuba?
The food crisis in Cuba is extensive, with 96.91% of the population lacking adequate food access, and 33.9% of households reporting at least one member going to bed hungry in the past year.
What has been the public reaction to these food initiatives?
Public reaction has been critical, as many see these initiatives as an attempt to mask the true severity of the shortages rather than provide genuine solutions.