A video published on Facebook by the Cuban Norge Quintero, filmed in Baracoa, captures the moment he lights a handmade wood stove —a rocket stove— whose design dates back to 1982. The scene, seemingly mundane, starkly illustrates the reality of millions of Cubans caught in the worst energy crisis since the Special Period.
But beyond its reach on social media, the video has sparked an avalanche of comments that depict, with humor, irony, and frustration, everyday life on the island.
In the face of blackouts that can last up to 24 hours and the ongoing shortage of liquefied gas, cooking has once again relied on methods that seemed to belong to the past. The so-called "rocket stove," developed in the 1980s —and attributed by some users to Dr. Larry Winiarski— uses less fuel than traditional stoves, making it a viable alternative amid the scarcity.
In the comments, however, Cuban wit mixes with satire. “Look at that kind of flame,” says the author of the video as he tends to the fire, but users quickly reacted: “That’s a blowtorch, it melts iron,” joked one. Another quipped, “That’s only good for melting aluminum,” while someone else warned with laughter, “Poor cauldrons.”
The soot, inevitable in this type of cooking, also became part of the debate. "And what about the soot?" asked one internet user, followed by another who summarized the daily sacrifice: "And to get rid of soot!!!!".
The conversation also highlighted practical knowledge and popular culture. Several users identified the stove as a “nonó,” a name used in some eastern regions, and shared recommendations to improve its functioning, such as regulating the air intake to control the intensity of the flame.
But it wasn't all humor. Amid the laughter, comments emerged that reflected social weariness. “Returning to the primitive community,” wrote one user. Another was more blunt: “What poverty, my Cuba.” There were even those who questioned the official narrative with irony: “Another achievement of the Revolution.”
The disconnection between the discourse and reality also became evident in seemingly minor details. While the video's creator talks about "chicharrones," several users reacted with disbelief: "Chicharrones from where?" "Who is eating that?" alluding to the real difficulty of accessing pork on the island.
Far from being an isolated case, in recent months there has been a surge in images of wood-burning stoves lit on balconies of buildings in urban areas, a sight that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. The need to cook has driven many Cubans to improvise increasingly precarious solutions, from burning dry leaves to constructing homemade devices with any available materials.
The dimensions of the crisis are profound. Millions of Cubans are surviving without stable access to conventional energy sources, amid a collapsed electrical system and a sustained reduction in fuel supply.
“Look at that kind of call, dad… how nice,” one can hear in the video. The phrase, filled with both enthusiasm and resignation, captures better than any statistic the mood of a country that, amidst jokes and smoke, is trying to move forward.
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