Did you know that there is a soda inspired by the dictator Fidel Castro and the Cuban Revolution? Its name is Havana Banana and the label features Castro's face with a cigar while holding some bananas.
In recent years, more than one Cuban in the United States has been surprised by the discovery.
In June of last year, a Cuban woman was startled in a market in Michigan when she found on a shelf the craft soda, whose slogan is "Taste the Revolution".
At that moment, the reaction to the finding went viral on TikTok, where user Heidy Martell shared a video of the "discovery," generating comments such as: “That's rat poison”; “Poison!” or “I wouldn't drink it even if I were dead.”
A satire with a banana flavor
Havana Banana is a soda produced by the company Rocket Fizz, known for its political satire drinks.
This line of sodas has featured other historical and controversial figures, such as Vladimir Lenin and Kim Jong-un.
According to the product description on the online store specializing in artisanal sodas, SodaPopOnline, the drink is made with pure cane sugar and other natural ingredients. Additionally, the advertising invites you to try "the revolution with Havana Banana by Fidel Castro."
It is mentioned in the same place that the inspiration for the drink comes from a supposed discovery by Fidel Castro in the botanical garden of Havana:
“There, he discovered a common variety of banana that the Cubans called ‘the Cuban banana’. This flavor became one of the most popular refreshments in Cuba and is now available again,” adds the advertisement.
Marketing based on dark humor
Rocket Fizz has used controversy as a marketing tool. A spokesperson for the company explained in an article from Soda Pop Shop:
"Our drinks are designed to be enjoyed and to make people think. We are neither glorifying nor ridiculing anyone; we simply use humor to draw attention to history and politics."
Within this line of satirical sodas, there are others with provocative names such as: Gaddafi’s Cream My People Soda; Kim Jong Un’s Doomsday Lemonade; and Osama Bin Laden’s Seal Ya Later Soda.
Another case is that of Leninade, a lemonade with a Soviet propaganda aesthetic and the slogan: "Get Hammered & Sickled".
Additionally, the brand has launched Dictator Cola, a series of sodas featuring different historical dictators on their labels, such as Kim Jong Un Cola and Saddam Hussein Cola.
Unlike conventional soft drinks, Havana Banana is not easily found in common markets, but rather in specialty stores and online sales platforms.
On the Soda Pop Shop website, its price is $3.99, while on the British site American Fizz, it sells for nearly four pounds sterling.
The promotional message from American Fizz reinforces the satirical tone of the product:
“Fidel Castro now has his own soda thanks to Rocket Fizz and their politically satirical pops featuring world-famous dictators! 'Taste the revolution' with this sweet craft soda, Havana Banana, flavored with banana. Made in the USA with pure cane sugar!”
As expected, the controversy is brewing. Meanwhile, some Cubans warn that they wouldn't even touch a bottle of the soda Havana-Banana.
Frequently asked questions about Havana Banana soda and its satirical context
What is Havana Banana soda and why is it controversial?
Havana Banana is a craft soda that features an image of Fidel Castro holding some bananas and a cigar, along with the slogan "Taste the Revolution." This beverage, produced by the company Rocket Fizz, is part of a line of satirical sodas that uses controversial historical and political figures to attract attention, which has generated mixed reactions, especially among exiled Cubans.
Where can you buy Havana Banana soda?
The soda Havana Banana is available in specialty stores and online sales platforms. It is not common to find it in regular markets. On sites like Soda Pop Shop, its price is $3.99, and on the British site American Fizz, it is sold for almost four pounds sterling.
What other political figures have been featured by Rocket Fizz in their satirical sodas?
Rocket Fizz has launched other satirical sodas featuring images of political figures such as Vladimir Lenin, Kim Jong-un, Gaddafi, and Osama Bin Laden. These beverages use dark humor as a marketing tool, with provocative names and slogans that capture the public's attention. The soda "Leninade," for example, has a slogan that plays with imagery from Soviet propaganda.
What has been the reaction of Cubans to the Havana Banana soda?
The reaction of Cubans, especially those living in the United States, has been one of surprise and rejection. Many have expressed their discontent and believe that the soda is an offensive product due to the pain and suffering associated with the Castro regime. Social media has reflected this sentiment, with comments criticizing the commercialization of the dictator's image on consumer products.
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