A Cuban woman transformed an ordinary bottle of cooking oil into her most exclusive accessory when her husband asked her to wear "the most expensive thing" she had for an outing.
Identified on Instagram as @norma.morado, the star of the video is seen in all black, sporting sunglasses, and holding a sealed bottle of cooking oil as if it were a luxury handbag.
The text accompanying the video reads, "My husband told me: let's go out, wear the most expensive thing you have."
The Cuban herself added to the joke in the comments: "This is the latest in fashion."
Posted on Instagram on Friday, the reel generated hundreds of reactions from Cubans who quickly caught on to the reference. Amidst the soaring prices on the island, possessing a bottle of oil has become almost a luxury item.
One of the most popular comments, with over 640 reactions, even suggested hiding such a "treasure."
"Norma, please take down the video, your neighbors will see it and then they'll come to steal the gold you have in the kitchen," a user wrote.
Another comment, with more than 300 reactions, adapted a known phrase about relationships to the Cuban context: "Stay with the one who has oil, because anyone can have a house and car."
Someone else found a new name for the product: "It's no longer oil; now it's called LIQUID gold."
The oil bottle became a sort of improvised high-fashion piece.
"What if I add a carton of eggs to make the outfit more aesthetic?" one user suggested.
Another noticed an important detail: the bottle was unopened.
"And she's carrying it sealed; you're showing off, ma'am," joked another commenter.
Some even asked for her house address "for a project," while another user took the comparison even further: "Soon, with the price of a liter, we could buy a solar panel."
Amidst all the jokes, one summed up the new status of the product in Cuba particularly well: "Not even a Birkin can compare to that accessory."
Yet, behind the impromptu fashion show and laughter lies a much less amusing reality.
The price of cooking oil in Cuba has soared dramatically in recent months, making it another basic commodity that many families struggle to afford.
This situation has made oil a frequent subject of Cuban humor in recent weeks.
Comedian Loky Kubah surpassed 1.4 million views with a sketch where a buyer tries to gather enough money to buy oil, while the seller raises the price from 2,500 to 3,500 pesos before the purchase is complete.
Days later, creator Yenelis López jokingly offered to trade a sealed liter of oil for a beach house with a pool, a car, and a generator, adding that she even expected change back.
Understanding the Oil Craze in Cuba
Why is cooking oil considered a luxury in Cuba?
Cooking oil has become a luxury in Cuba due to significant price hikes, making it a scarce and pricey commodity that many can barely afford.
How are Cubans responding to the high cost of oil?
Cubans are using humor and satire to cope with the high cost of oil, as seen in social media posts and comedy sketches poking fun at the situation.
What impact has the oil price increase had on Cuban society?
The rise in oil prices has strained household budgets, making it a central topic of discussion and humor as families struggle to afford basic necessities.