Cuban content creator Dainelys Morales has brought attention to the serious food crisis gripping Cuba. In a recent video, she showcased a meal of mashed cassava with boiled eggs, highlighting the absence of rice in her household.
Filming from her backyard while peeling cassava with her family, Morales explained the reasons behind the rice shortage at home. Her video quickly resonated with many Cubans facing the same predicament, sparking numerous comments and discussions.
"Today, there was no rice at home, so we opted for cassava for lunch," she narrated. Accompanying her post was a text that used dark humor to summarize the dire situation: "Given the untouchable prices we're facing in Cuba right now, this is what's on the menu. If this continues, I might just turn into a cassava vendor!"
Morales didn't stop at rice; she also touched upon the scarcity of cooking oil and pork. "This is my last bit of oil. At 6,000 pesos per liter, it's a luxury. I was using it drop by drop. It's hard to explain," she lamented.
The young creator prepared a cassava mash, paired with boiled eggs and a small sauté. On the topic of pork scarcity, she remarked, "Pork is even harder to find now as people are trying to extract lard from it," due to the unavailability of affordable cooking oil.
Many viewers expressed their support for Morales, relating to her situation. "I hope you receive many blessings because I understand the daily struggle to find food," commented one follower.
Meanwhile, another viewer found culinary inspiration: "At least you made my mouth water with how delicious that looks. I'll try making it the next time I cook."
Rising Food Prices and the Absence of Rice in Cuba
In 2026, there has been a surge in stories across social media from Cubans substituting rice with cassava, sweet potatoes, plantains, and pumpkin as a survival strategy amidst relentless price hikes.
The Cuban government attempted to curb inflation by setting a maximum price of 155 CUP per pound for rice in March 2025. However, this ceiling was never maintained in practice.
In July 2026, the Council of Ministers abolished this price cap through Decree 156, published in the Official Gazette, without immediately setting a new price guideline. In non-regulated markets, rice was priced between 250 and over 400 CUP per pound by July. On the black market, a 25 kg sack reached 31,800 CUP.
Cooking oil faced a similar fate, with its official price ceiling removed in June 2026, leading to reports of prices ranging from 4,000 to 6,000 CUP per liter by early August.
Understanding Cuba's Food Crisis
Why are Cubans replacing rice with cassava?
Due to soaring prices and scarcity, many Cubans are turning to alternatives like cassava, sweet potatoes, and plantains as more affordable food options.
What measures did the Cuban government take to control rice prices?
In March 2025, the government set a price cap of 155 CUP per pound for rice, but it was later removed in July 2026 as prices continued to rise uncontrollably.
How did the price of cooking oil change in Cuba?
The official price cap for cooking oil was eliminated in June 2026, leading to dramatic price increases, with reports of prices reaching between 4,000 and 6,000 CUP per liter by August.