A Cuban resident in Houston, Texas, became the main character in a story that encapsulates the reality of many families on the island: she bought two packages of strawberries at Sam's Club and took them to Cuba for her relatives to try for the first time in their lives.
The young woman, known on TikTok as @yanis_sweet.houston, posted the video on September 27 and explained step by step the method she used to ensure the strawberries survived the journey in perfect condition.
"I put them in this little basket, I placed paper towels to absorb the moisture, wrapped it in aluminum foil, and put it in my suitcase underneath the 50-pound checked baggage," she recounted in the clip.
But the care didn't stop there: the young woman woke up early before leaving to pack the strawberries in the suitcase and keep them cool for as long as possible.
"I put them in a bag that keeps things cold along with other items that were frozen, and that's why they arrived perfectly," he explained.
The family's reaction was varied, something she herself had anticipated: since it was an uncommon product that is hard to find in Cuba, not everyone liked it equally.
"Many didn't like it much, while others did. You know that this is something we don’t see around here, but it makes me happy that at least they can eat it," he said.
To make the experience more festive, the young woman prepared small tres leches cakes for each family member and used strawberries to decorate them along with Cuban meringue, so that everyone could enjoy them in a sweet and familial setting.
"The Cuban merengue tastes delicious, and this is how the mini tres leches would look with the strawberry on top," she described with evident satisfaction.
Strawberries are an uncommon product and difficult to find for many families in Cuba. Their cultivation on the island is limited and requires specific conditions and care.
The topic had already sparked viral debate in April 2025, when a Cuban influencer showcased strawberries grown in her garden, which provoked criticism from users who felt that this reality was distant from the everyday lives of many Cubans.
The video from @yanis_sweet.houston is part of a widespread trend among the diaspora: Cubans documenting their purchases at Walmart or Costco to bring food to their families on the island.
Days earlier, another Cuban traveled to the island with a backpack full of cheese and ham, and on September 30, another young woman showed everything she bought at Walmart to travel with her daughter.
"I brought quite a bit, yes, I brought quite a bit, so they're also delicious," the young woman from Houston concluded, with the satisfaction of someone who knows that a small gesture can mean a lot to those waiting on the other side.
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