18 Uniquely Cuban Things to Buy in Havana

Havana is well-known for its beauty - the streets lined with old colonial buildings, vintage cars everywhere and, of course, the beauty of the Caribbean nature. One can capture some of this beauty with simple snapshots, however, there are plenty of first-hand drawings and oil paintings on sale throughout the city (beginning with touristy, souvenir-like ones, found at most markets, and the more serious ones in the city's numerous galleries) and at amazingly reasonable prices, too. Even a gallery painting can cost as little as $100, while the touristy ones would go for around $20. A visit to one of the local markets, such as Varadero, will see you get very cheaply a decent painting done by a local artist. As with all art, just make sure to buy it because you like it, not because you want to resell it afterwards.

Most Havana's craft markets are packed with woodwork - kitschy ashtrays, figurines, as well wood carvings of excellent quality. Cubans have few natural resources available, but what they do have, they make full use of and a one good resource is beach wood, ideal for wood carving. You can pickup a nicely done ashtray, a small Castro or Che figurine, or a vintage car model (usually made of wood and soda cans) for as little as $3-$10.

Cuba may well not have a very long tradition of handicrafts, but the inflow of tourists in recent years has prompted local artisans to quickly make up for the lost time. Numerous gift shops and street markets all over the city are teeming with locally-produced handicrafts. Their most popular merchandise include woodcarvings and statues, papier-mâché masks and religious figurines, as well as simple jewelry made from shells and seeds. Also on sale are a variety of Afro-Cuban percussion instruments, such as two-headed, hourglass-shaped bata drums; paired bongos, carved African-style religious drums; and congas, the modern salsa backbone. Shékeres (gourd shakers) and claves (two wooden sticks used to play the fundamental rhythm in various Cuban genres) are also available.

The Calle Tacón market was once a huge crafts market in Havana. After it closed down a few years ago, all its vendors have relocated to the Almacenes San José, which is now the city´s largest craft market, offering clothing, paintings, tourist souvenirs, ceramics, baseball bats, jewelry, and a multitude of other products. It is open daily 9am-5pm.

When it comes to cigars, Cuban cigars need no introduction and amongst them, Cohibas are considered like no other. Cohiba cigars came to life as the handiwork of an independent cigar maker, who mainly made them for friends and acquaintances. One day, one such cigar made its way into the hands of Fidel Castro, who decided to seek out this man and learn his secrets. Castro was so impressed with the cigars that he decided to set up a small factory in an old mansion near Havana. For the first two decades, Cohiba's exclusivity didn't change so much, still being reserved for friends, but this time Castro's friends. Cohibas were often gifted to foreign state officials and soon became highly appreciated outside of Cuba as well. In 1982, the factory was extended and the cigars became available to more than just the political elite.

Cohibas are very well regarded amongst the world elite and will make a great present even for a non-smoker. The cigars are made by Habanos SA, using top secret methods and tobacco from 10 handpicked fields. The process of production is also considered unique, it involves several stages of fermentation and yields some of the smoothest full-bodied cigars available. Please keep in mind that authentic Cohibas can only be purchased in upper-scale shops/hotels; do not try to buy them off the streets. Also, Cuban law allows only up to 50 cigars, in a sealed box, to be taken out of the country.

Prices for a box start at $50 and can climb over $400 for more select cigars. Most are sold in boxes, however, some are sold in smaller 5 packs or singles.
NOTE: Cuban cigars are not allowed in the USA.

Cuba and most of the Caribbeans have a long history when it comes to rum. Rum has been consumed in the region since early colonial times and produced here for almost just as long. Before the Cuban revolution, the world famous “Bacardi” was headquartered in Havana, and although after the revolution Bacardi moved to the nearby Bahamas, a local company by the name “Havana Club” is once again making a name for Cuban rum. Their rum has done very well at many international competitions and is becoming more and more popular. As with most rums produced in Latin countries, Cuban rum has a smooth taste and a distinctive flavor, which it makes both a great cocktail rum (say, for a Cuba Libre or a Daiquiri) or enjoyed the old sailor-way as a “Bumbo” (rum, water, sugar & nutmeg).

“Havana Club” is mostly available at the upscale shops and hotels, a very good place to taste and buy is their own “Havana Club Rum Museum”. There, for a small fee ($6), you can learn the history of rum in Cuba, get a taste of the rums produced by Havana Club and, of course, purchase a bottle or two. Prices vary between $3 and 15.
NOTE: Cuban rum is not allowed into the USA.

Coconut Monkeys are another popular symbol of Cuba. These cute little fellas – hand-carved from coconuts – are sold on every street corner in Havana and at about £3 each. You can also find rare coconut carvings of famous individuals, such as Fidel Castro. New office mascot anyone?

Cuban cuisine is definitely a very rich one, from churros to sweetly delightful dulce de leche; guava paste to crunchy plantain chips; palito (sesame sticks) to panela (unrefined whole cane sugar), the variety of mouthwatering foods will make you want to risk going over your airline’s baggage limits. Cuban food is a blend of many culinary influences: Native American Taino, African, Spanish and Caribbean. Hence, many local dishes are similar to those found in other countries, e.g. spices and techniques from Spanish, African and Caribbean cuisines.

The most typical Cuban food - comida criolla - comprises various ingredients, including mandatory protein base (fish, seafood, pork, chicken or beef), salad, fried plantains, rice and beans. Resulting from colonization and slave trade is the presence in Cuban cuisine of Spanish and African influences. Spanish colonizers brought over citrus fruits, along with rice and vegetables, while the African slaves experimented with cassava, maize and okra. Other Cuban culinary classics include mojo chicken and black beans and rice, named so after Moors and Christians contributed to this culinary symbiosis.

Crisp tostones are inseparable part of any Cuban, Caribbean or Puerto Rican meal. These double-fried green plantains (unripe bananas) may accompany the main course or come as an appetizer topped with cheese or ceviche. This mouthwatering dish is easy to make if you have the right equipment. After all, who can’t fry a flattened banana?! All you need is a tostonera, a plantain press. There are wooden, plastic or metal tostoneras, and they are further divided into two types: one for flattening the plantains after frying, and the other, more sophisticated - for making stuffed and fried plantain.

Nearly 80% of all Cuban households have a tostonera in their possession. Exactly how many can find tostonera in the kitchen, when needed, is another question. For those who use them regularly, wood is the most preferred type - be it two slabs of cheap pine connected with a rawhide strap or some handcrafted hardwood piece with brass hinges and fancy artwork. Some tostoneras look so beautiful that people merely use for decorative purposes. Alternatively, Tostones can be shaped as little cups and stuffed with fillings - shrimp, picadillo, roast pork and other. Stuffed tostones make a great appetizer or party food. Several producers offer special tostoneras capable of automatically converting flat tostón into a small bowl fit for stuffing.

Unlike other Latin American countries, Cuba remained in Spanish colony throughout the 19th century and, as such, relied on Spanish and Spanish Colonial Reales for currency. In 1869, Cuban Peso banknotes were introduced, pegged 1:1 to the US Dollar.

After Cuba gained independence in 1902, the first Cuban coins, featuring a star design, were minted in the USA and brought into circulation in 1915. Some of those coins were nice large silver pieces, relatively affordable. Golden ones were also in use, denominated at 1, 2, 4, 5, 10 and 20 pesos - they are now rare items that only wealthy collectors can afford. The Revolution of 1958-1960 delivered a major blow onto the Cuban-American relations, following which the Cuban currency was pegged to the Soviet Ruble. The new Cuban coins were made of aluminium. Today, the US Dollar is worth around 25 Pesos, and the coins of 1, 2, 5, 20 centavos and 1 & 3 pesos (in keeping with the communist tradition) are still used, carrying a portrait of Che Guevara, a revolutionary much famous in Cuba and throughout the world.

Cuban monetary system implies coexistence of 2 currencies - the so-called 'hard' Convertible Peso and the ordinary Peso. Basic goods are sold in Pesos, but luxury items are only available for CUC, which stands 1:1 to the US dollar. As of 1981, Cuban coins have been issued by the Instituto Nacional de Turismo (INTUR), however, with the introduction of the Convertible Peso in 1994, the coins no longer carry the INTUR inscription. Unlike Europeans, the US collectors are not likely to be allowed to bring in Cuban coins, which is a shame since some of them may prove a good investment if the newest diplomatic developments gain momentum.

Unlike Mexico, Cuba doesn’t have a native population to uphold ancient craft tradition. Also, because of its relatively young tourist sector, Cuba is not that strong on handicrafts either, although it is quite strong on trinkets. All over the country, at street markets, there are tonnes of tacky little things on sale, of which the most notable are replica license plates reading “Cuba” or “Havana”, as well as numerous variations on the Che theme.

Havana is a home to a grand car museum, Museo del Auto Antiquo, housed in one of the beautifully restored 18th century buildings on Calle Officios, a historic pedestrian street. The museum's collection features Cadillacs, Rolls Royce, Packards and other automotive reminders of Cuba’s magnificent, decadent past. The displayed vehicles are mostly untouched originals, although the country’s oldest car, a 1908 Cadillac, may be away for restoration.
At a close-by street market, in Plaza de Armes, there's a good chance of finding an original Cuban yellow license plate, contrary to those plastic fakes sold in souvenir shops. Most genuine pieces are fixed to the cars, few of which are ever scrapped in Cuba, and therefore can't be bought.

There are three basic colors for Cuban license plates: yellow for privately owned cars, red for rented vehicles, and blue for official and government-owned fleet. A handful of Mercedes and BMWs seen in Cuba are predominantly blue licensed.

Cuban literature started to shape around the early 19th century. The main theme of the period was that of independence and freedom, voiced by José Martí, the front man of the Modernist movement in Cuban literature. Authors, like Nicolás Guillén and Jose Z. Tallet, dedicated their works to social protest. Other names of influence in the field of poetry and novels have been Dulce María Loynaz and José Lezama Lima. Romanticist Miguel Barnet, author of "Everyone Dreamed of Cuba," presents a more melancholic image of Cuba. Many of the big names in Cuban literature - such as Reinaldo Arenas, Guillermo Cabrera Infante and, more recently, Daína Chaviano, Pedro Juan Gutiérrez, Zoé Valdés, Guillermo Rosales and Leonardo Padurahave - have gained worldwide acclaim in the post-revolutionary era. Some of them have resorted to working abroad, though, prompted by the ideological pressure from the Cuban government-controlled media.

Cuba's monetary system implies two currencies: one for tourists and the other one for locals. The one for tourists - called the Convertible Cuban Peso (CUC) - has 26 times more value than the regular Cuban Peso (CUP), the country's national currency, also known as Moneda Nacional (MN). Prices on goods and services in all the tourist places in Cuba are presented in CUC. Although Cuba is no stranger to ATM machines, they are somewhat difficult to find outside the capital city and some of them work poorly. As of recently, Cuban banks have widened their network of cash dispensers, but still they are quite rare outside major cities, such as Havana, Trinidad or Varadero.

Habana 1791 is a local landmark, housed in an 18th century mansion at Mercaderes No. 156, on the corner of Obrapía, in the heart of Old Havana. This is by far more than just a place to buy perfumes (last minute buys at the airport Duty Free is how most of the folk get their fragrances these days). Habana 1791 is a "house" of fragrances, combining retail facility with a lab and a museum. On offer here are 12 major scents - Rose, Jasmine, Violet, Orange Blossom, Lilac, Ylang-Ylang, Patchouli, Vetiver, Sandalwood, Tobacco, Citric and Lavender - which together create a feel of the long-gone colonial era, carefully preserved in handcrafted bottles, stylishly corked and waxed, and, for extra fun, placed inside small linen bags.

And if the big 12 are not enough for you, custom-made scents can be created on site before your very eyes, reflecting your personality. In a bid to attain that, prior to starting mixing the scents, the alchemist-perfumer will give you a little chit-chat to reveal your state of mind, mood, character or anything else responsible for your attractive smelliness. The resulting product will be unique, very much like a fingerprint. The perfume bottles vary in style and sizes, and are also subject to the customer's selection. Some of them are created by local ceramists, others - brought all the way from India.

Cuban music is deeply rooted in Spanish and West African tradition, although influenced over the centuries by various genres from other countries. The most notable such influences have been French (and their colonies in the Americas) and the U.S. Cuban music, in turn, has been rather popular in other countries, as well, and had its print on the evolution of jazz and salsa, Argentinian tango, Ghanaian high-life, West African Afrobeat, Dominican Bachata and Merengue, Colombian Cumbia and even Spanish Nuevo flamenco.

If you're a salsa fan, you should get yourself a couple of discs by Los Van Van or NG La Banda. Those in favor of Cuban folk music must check out the recordings of Silvio Rodriguez and Pablo Milanes. Lovers of Jazz should pay attention to Chucho Valdés with Irakere and Gonzalo Rubalcaba, and those who get the kick out of Afro-Cuban tunes must definitely explore Síntesis, Los Muñequitos de Matanzas, Yoruba Andabo, and Clavé y Guaguanco. If you're a son and mambo type of person, go for Adalberto Alvarez y su Son, or the classic re-releases of Beny Moré and Peréz Prado. And last but not least, if you have a copy of Buena Vista Social Club, you might want to dig into some solo albums by their individual members: Compay Segundo, Rubén Gonzales, Eliades Ochoa, and Omara Portuona. If you're keen on Reggaeton, Eddy-K is your choice.

It is safer to buy from authorized dealers, rather than street markets or vendors, as they may flog you some rubbish quality recordings.
NOTE: Cuban music, as well as CDs with Cuban informational and educational materials, are banned in the U.S.

Although Cuban coffee is a distant runner-up to Cuban cigars in terms of popularity, it does enjoy a good reputation with coffee lovers worldwide and every Cuban at home and abroad. Cuban coffee is 100% natural, harvested in the Sierra Maestra Mountains, whose climate and soil are said to be ideally suited for growing coffee without any resort to chemicals. The labor intensity of the production process, much of which is done by hand, is duly compensated by Cuba's cheap labor force which, in turn, keeps the prices at bay. Cuban coffee packs quite a kick and its flavor, as many things Cuban, is quite strong and distinctive. Even a small cup will wake you up in the morning. It is actually a Cuban tradition to have a small shot of Cuban coffee each morning, as well as after dinner.

The first coffee plant in the country was commissioned in 1748 by Jose Antonio Gelabert. Eventually, in 1791, French colonists who fled Haiti after the local revolution and ensued abolition of slavery, brought along advanced methods of coffee production to Cuba. At some point, Cuba became a main supplier of coffee to Spain, with coffee trade contributing to the island's economy more than its sugar production. At its peak prior to 1959, Cuba exported annually 20,000 tons of coffee worth $21.5 million. Alongside turning into one of the country's major exports, coffee also proved essential to Cuban way of life and culture. Most Cubans, those who live on the island or abroad, drink coffee at least two times a day as a must. The Revolution of 1959 saw nationalization of the Cuban coffee industry and brought it to a slow decline. Nowadays, Cubans are allotted just 2 ounces of coffee for 15 days, and that coffee is of a very poor quality, mixed with other ingredients to make up volume.

Guayabera is a men's shirt worn all over the Caribbean (particularly Cuba), Mexico, Latin America and Southeast Asia. Although its origin is claimed by several countries, Cubans seem to be the strongest claimants of them all, considering the place the shirt holds in their culture. The pleated, button down garment comes in many variations, and is highly appreciated by the locals who tend to wear it almost everywhere, from the old men playing dominoes in the park to the young ones at wedding parties, as the most comfortable thing to put on in Havana's sweat drenching hot months. The shirt is easily recognizable by its two or four front pockets and, most notably, the vertical rows of alforzas, providing the much needed ventilation.

Today, guayabera enjoys a major comeback with both Cuban fashion designers and state-run manufacturers. Moreover, it's made a big splash in the U.S. and Europe as well. Perry Ellis has launched a line, and the trendy Urban Outfitters followed suit. Even Land’s End sells them. But it's Cuba that made this loose-fitting garment truly famous, at par with Cuban rum and cigars. The bodyguards of Comandante Fidel often don guayaberas, and the majority of Cuban males have at least one in their wardrobe as a dress of choice for formal occasions. Cuban women also keep up with the trend, prompting a twist on the classic in the form of guayabera dresses and shirts for ladies. Linen and cotton guayaberas that are offered for sale at hotel gift shops would set you back between $25 and $100.

As part of the Caribbean, Cuba has no shortage of coral, hence the abundance of coral jewelry on the island. The locals have been engaged in coral jewelry making for centuries and some of the pieces they produce are true pieces of art. Pick up a black coral necklace or a bracelet for someone special back home - a Caribbean gift to remember, no doubt. Given the plenitude of the material and cheap labor, prices are quite affordable. If there's someone more fashionable in your midst, treat them to a handmade jewellery present. Cuban street markets are packed with all sorts of trinkets, but necklaces made from black watermelon seeds, red cornilla seeds and black jaboncilla seeds will make the day for any fashionista. Not only are they unique, but also 100% natural, which goes a long way these days.

Argentinian-born Ernesto Che Guevara has been a symbol of modern revolution and Cuban revolution in particular for half a century now. If there's a rebel in you, getting yourself (or some like-minded fella back home) a small memento of this symbol from Cuba is a must. The choice of artifacts bearing Che's image is wide, but, perhaps, the coolest of them all is a replica of his signature green beret (no relation to the U.S Green Berets) called "boina" with a little red star in front.

When it comes to shopping in Cuba, hitting the right places, such as the local street markets, is the right thing to do, considering they are teeming with some true bargains. Among the immediate choices that spring to mind are t-shirts with the word ‘Havana’ inscribed upon. The quality of the garments may vary, depending on a retail venue.
Are you from Cuba? Well, it doesn't really matter whether you're local or expat, or just visiting, you will love sporting your "Cuba is Made of Stars" t-shirt all the same and will find it exciting answering that same question - "Where did you get it?"