MOJITO CUBANO + Fotos La Habana, CUBA

Mojito Cubano

I am not a big drinker, however, one cocktail I find hard to pass is the Cuban cocktail, the Mojito. A delightful marriage of mint, lime and white rum, perfect sipped on a balmy evening watching the people meander by.

Ingredients

• Per tumbler
• 1/2 tsp unrefined sugar
• 10 mint leaves*
• juice of half a lime + a slice for decorating the glass
• ice cubes
• white rum small splash for me, large glug for him
• sparkling/ soda water

Instructions

• Place the sugar, mint leaves and lime juice in to the glass. Using a mortar or wooden spoon handle to bruise the mint leaves and dissolve the sugar with the lime juice. Don't go too crazy here you don't want to macerate the mint just bruise it to release the essential oils. Add ice and rum to your liking and top up with sparkling water.

Notes

*Traditionally 'apple mint' is used, a milder sweet mint variety coincidentally rampant in our garden.

We are home! It has been a long 2 months and we are very happy to be back home to our daily routine of life with 2 young children. The highlight of our trip was the last 2 weeks spent in Havana, Cuba. Compared to culture-less Panama and the rawness of the Colombian highlands, Cuba is alive. The old American cars, the derelict 18th Century colonial houses people call home, the life and energy of the people. My senses were on overload; brightly painted buildings, music, laughter, exhaust fumes (a mixture of diesel and vegetable oil), street food, and the tropical heat on my skin. It is hard not to feel invigorated in Cuba, it really is a unique place.

I am unsure if words are enough to describe our time in Havana. So today I will share some of my favourite images of the markets and cars. (We are also recovering from jet lag and exhaustion after 2 overnight flights due to an unexpected delay in Panama City so my concentration levels are not the best). Plus a recipe to make a refreshing Cuban cocktail and little video to give you a taste of this exceptional city. Next week I will share more photos and stories and my favourite Cuban recipe (although it will be hard to pick which one).

Our ride from the airport. Would you believe we squeezed 6 people plus 7 suitcases and stroller in that car!

There are no supermarkets in Havana (well not as we know them) and farmers markets on almost every corner. It was avocado (aguacate) season, and those little beauties below, the size of small melons, were 30-40c each. With the creamiest, sweetest flesh imaginable, we went through 2-3 a day!

A drive through Central Havana (the ghetto).

There is no advertising in Cuba (wahoo), although a fair amount of revolution propaganda on billboards and banners around the country.

Watch a short video of Cuban Musica, these three have the moves down…

Happy days!

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