CubaPLUS Magazine

A museum that responds to the slogan "Patria o Muerte" and is located in the municipality of Morón, province of Ciego de Ávila, also tells us about the transcendental importance that the sweet product obtained from sugar cane in the economy of the Caribbean island, from colonial times to the present day.

The links between the history of Cuba and the production of sugar are well worth knowing, especially if it is a question of travelers or vacationers interested in the social fabric and above all, in the traditional customs of this Caribbean nation that at one time was the first producer in the world of that item.

Incidentally, in the process of obtaining derivatives as excellent as the world-famous Cuban refined rum, not to mention that alchemy also leads to the production of wood and paper from sugarcane bagasse. So, promoting visits to that Museum has been an excellent idea for travel agents, as is the case with a similar facility located between the municipalities of Remedios and Caibarién, in the central province of Villa Clara.

But the original Patria o Muerte Museum in question is reached through the mediation of Gaviota Tours, and it is generally the visitors staying at the Jardines del Rey tourist destination who join the “Sugar, tobacco and rum” excursion. A pleasant and instructive experience at the same time. Based in the old Patria o Muerte sugar mill, it has 10 indoor and outdoor areas where equipment and instruments used in the production of sweets are displayed, as well as during the planting stage of the grass in the fields generally close to the industries, although this has not always been the case.

The visitor is informed about the scientific work carried out by competent institutions in order to obtain the best varieties of the plant. And about the customs, some of them very old, that arose around this important production process. Among the objects to appreciate are an old sugar mill, a tandem of mills, a scale, line motors, a zeppelin from 1917 and a crane that was used in the construction of the Panama Canal.

Pure history that seems dead, but sounds very rooted to Cubans. Very admired are the 14 steam locomotives made in the 20th century, in good condition and one of them in operation. The history room gives interactive lessons from a Californian colonial-style house, on the different stages covered by this essential industry for Cuba.

A nice and very cordial note is produced at the time of the toast with canchánchara, a native cocktail made with cane brandy, honey and lemon, with which the visitor is entertained. A kind of Guajiro concoction, even considered patriotic, with the genuine flavor of this small and large island.