Rations for Havana Residents May 19-25
HAVANA TIMES – We present the list of protein products that habaneros can buy with their ration books at their neighborhood bodega stores during the week of May 19-25.
The portions are distributed by month rotating in the 15 municipalities of the capital. Habana residents also receive a quota of rice, sugar, a small amount of beans or peas, salt, coffee and matches.
CHICKEN (1 lb for consumers aged 14 and over and those with medical diets ) : Complete distribution in Old Havana and La Lisa ; Continue distribution in Cerro , Centro Habana and Habana del Este, and start in Diez de Octubre .
FLAVORED HASH (Mincemeat) (½ pound per consumer) : Complete distribution in Guanabacoa , distribute in Plaza and Regla.
MORTADELLA (½ pound per consumer) : Complete distribution in Diez de Octubre , distribute in Cerro and Arroyo Naranjo .
BEEF HASH (Mincemeat) (children up to age 13). Conclude Cotorro.
EGGS ( 5 per consumer and more for medical diets as applicable): Conclude distribution in Marianao and Playa; distribute in Arroyo Naranjo , La Lisa , Cerro , Cotorro .
CHICKEN for FISH (11 ounces per consumer and 6 lbs of frozen fish with head and tail for medical diets and special diets for children from under 18) : Complete distribution in Centro Habana and Habana del Este ; distribute in Arroyo Naranjo, Boyeros, San Miguel and Diez de Octubre .
Shameful and demoralizing system….
Why are the ‘anti-capitalists’, not advocating for change??>>>
My guess is that “hash” is the pseudo meat made from ground soy and various meat by products. It is said to be disgusting. You are correct, the rations are not enough to survive on alone. Cubans are compelled to buy or barter for additional foods to get by.
Children Up to age 7 are given a special ration of powdered milk. Older children & adults do not get milk. “Continuation” of a ration distribution means that the supply of a given product, beans for example, has not run out yet. That’s a significant detail, because while the system says each citizen is entitled to a given ration, they must get to the shop early, wait in line for their turn and hope the supply doesn’t run out before they get their allotment.
The ration system is yet another glorious achievement of the revolution.
These posts on rations are tough for a foreigner to figure out. Hash is unclear to me. So are the continuation rules and children references, would anyone with knowledge be able to give an ABC of the ration system in Cuba, fitting in the above questions? And practically, it appears as if the rations would keep you going maybe for a short time, but not with a lot of energy, unless supplemented, at least from time to time over the week. Is that a fair assessment?