5 things Cuba is famous for
Why all the fuss over Cuba? What is this small island just a few hundred miles off the coast of Florida famous for? You might be surprised … The cigars, the rum, the women, the dancing, not to mention the baseball. Ohh, and don’t forget Castro.
# 1. Their cigars. Cuban cigars are known worldwide as the best cigars. Like the best, they are also very expensive. Cuban cigars have been called the forbidden fruit for their distinctive flavor and aroma. The Cuban government controls all cigar production in Cuba. Cuban cigars are made from tobacco, fillers and wrappers grown, manufactured and manufactured in Cuba. Cuban cigars are for the most part handmade by master cigar rollers known as torcedores. Torcedores are considered artists in their field and are highly respected in Cuba and around the world. Although Cuban cigars are considered the best in the world, they are illegal in the United States.
# 2. It’s Fidel. Fidel Castro has been a polarizing figure for decades. He is both loved and hated by many. Fidel Castro came to power in 1959 as a result of the Cuban Revolution against the US-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. After Batista’s overthrow in 1959, Castro took over the military and soon became Cuba’s next dictator. From 1959 to 1960, Castro began to make radical changes throughout Cuba. Castro nationalized all industrial businesses, turned agriculture into a collective community, and took control of all US-owned businesses. It was also during this time period that Castro began cutting times with the United States and forming an alliance with the Soviet Union. Although Castro denied being a communist, he had effectively transformed Cuba into a communist country.
# 3. It’s rum. Cuban rum, like Cuban cigars, is among the best in the world. Cuban rum has been called the spice of life for its mild but strong flavor. As with Cuban cigars, rum is illegal in the United States due to the trade embargo that was enacted in 1962. Cuban rum is made from the by-product of sugar cane known as molasses. This process of making rum was brought to Cuba by slaves from Africa. Cuba was the main supplier of rum in the 1700s and today the most common brand of Cuban rum is Havana Club.
# 4. He’s dancing. Cuba is famous for its spicy and sexy Latin dances. Imagine yourself moving passionately across the dance floor as you move to the beat of your dance partner. Cuban dances are all about passion and immersing yourself in the history of dance. The word Salsa was created in New York, however the dance originated in Cuba. The sauce combines a mixture of the danzón of the French, the rumba of Africa and the son of Cuba. The Cha-Cha-Cha also originated in Cuba. Cha-Cha-Cha is similar to Mambo and gained fame in the early 1950s. Cha-Cha-Cha is more sensual than Salsa and can be more complex with its many rhythms.
# 5. It’s baseball. Baseball is more than America’s favorite pastime. It is one of the most practiced sports in Cuba with a long and rich history. Baseball was brought to Cuba around 1860 by Cubans who had studied and played alongside sailors in the United States. Some of the best players in the world are of Cuban heritage. Cristóbal Torriente, Martín Dihigo and José Méndez are all in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Cubans have played baseball in almost every country in the world where baseball exists. Not only have Cubans played abroad, but many baseball greats from other countries have also gone to Cuba to play.