Despite the ongoing hardships in Cuba, including frequent blackouts and widespread poverty, a Cuban woman who lives abroad recently returned to Camagüey and shared a video on TikTok. In the clip, she is seen enjoying a fresh mango with remarkable enthusiasm, a stark contrast to the island's severe crisis characterized by power outages lasting up to 24 hours, severe food shortages, and rampant inflation.
The video, uploaded by user @airinperez2 (AiriNails Shop), shows her savoring the fruit directly while exclaiming, "This is the real, the original, the true taste of mango." The hashtags —#cubanosporelmundo, #regresoacuba, and #camaguey— suggest that she is someone who resides outside Cuba and is temporarily visiting the island.
In a particularly joyous moment of the video, she declares, "If you don't eat mango like this, you don't know what life is," capturing the essence of her experience. Mango season in Cuba wraps up in July, spanning from March to July, peaking between May and June, which explains the fresh availability of the fruit in Camagüey at that time.
Yet, for those living on the island daily, the mango she cherishes as a sensory delight is becoming increasingly unaffordable. By May 2026, the price for a pound of mango had soared to 200 Cuban pesos, while an orange cost 1,000 pesos and an apple 500 pesos, prices that are unattainable for most Cubans with state salaries.
Power Crisis Worsens Economic Strain
The energy crisis further exacerbates these challenges. Cuba is enduring its most severe electrical crisis in 2026, with blackouts exceeding 20 hours daily and a record power deficit of 2,174 MW in May, leaving 70% of the island without electricity simultaneously. Over the past 18 months, the national electrical system has collapsed at least seven times.
In areas such as Los Mangos in Matanzas, residents have endured 72 consecutive hours without electricity, with only two hours of power during the entire period.
Nostalgia and Reality Clash on Social Media
The video by @airinperez2 is part of a recurring trend on TikTok, where Cuban expatriates returning to the island share content highlighting simple pleasures or nostalgic moments—such as tropical fruits, warm human interactions, or a life without rent pressures—eliciting mixed reactions. Some embrace this nostalgia, while others criticize it as a partial view that overlooks the everyday struggles.
A similar case occurred on June 26, when a Cuban woman with a decade in the United States argued that living in Cuba with a home of one's own equates to being "a millionaire without having millions in your account," sparking a comparable debate online.
The video concludes with a humorous self-commentary by the author, "I look like a pig, a fly," reflecting the intensity of her enjoyment of the mango but inadvertently highlighting the gap between the Cuba that visitors see and the Cuba that its residents experience daily.
Understanding Cuba's Economic and Energy Challenges
What factors contribute to the current crisis in Cuba?
The crisis in Cuba is fueled by prolonged power outages, severe food shortages, and out-of-control inflation, exacerbated by an ongoing energy crisis affecting the entire island.
How are Cubans coping with the energy crisis?
Cubans are enduring lengthy blackouts, with some areas experiencing up to 72 hours without electricity. This situation has worsened living conditions and has made daily life increasingly difficult.
Why is the price of mangoes and other fruits so high in Cuba?
The soaring prices of mangoes and other fruits in Cuba are due to inflation and economic instability, making these once-common items a luxury for many residents.