Cuba And The History Of Rum

While there are many great things to enjoy about Cuba, it is fair to say that the party atmosphere and social side of the island is a great attractions for many tourists. The weather, the culture, the music, and of course, the ability to party until the early hours make Cuba an ideal destination if you want to party with some class and style. Some many different components and elements help to make Cuba such an invigorating party destination but most great Cuban parties involve at least a dash of rum.

If you were to look into the history of rum in Cuba, you would find that it is a story that is as old as the colonization of Cuba. This is down to the fact that rum owes a lot to the sugar cane that arrived in Cuba thanks to Christopher Columbus. It was on the second visit to Cuba undertaken by Columbus that the sugar cane would arrive and this would change the nature of the island forever. Sugar cane flourished in the Cuban soil, which proved to be very fertile for this style of plant. Add in a very pleasant micro-culture and suddenly sugar cane was at the heart of Cuban industry and agriculture.

There Are Different Views On The Origins Of Rum In Cuba

Although there are arguments about the true origins of rum on the island, one of the strongest stories dates back to 1650. It was said that a group of pirates who roamed the Caribbean Sea developed a drink called rum billion, which set the tone for what would later be known as rum. Other people believe that rum developed from the slaves, who created a drink from yucca and maize, which was called garapo.
People looking to market the history of rum may be keen to move away from the slave aspect but there is proof that this drink was later mixed with the extract from the juice of the sugar cane. After a period of fermentation, this created a potent drink, which was converted into alcohol.

With a sweet smell and clarity not provided by many other drinks, rums became a popular drink on the island but its real popularity came to the fore in the 19th century. Distilleries were cropping up all over Cuba and many of the big-name brands loved across the world started to open up and operate in the rum industry. Two huge names in the industry which developed at this time were Bacardi and Havana Club. Anyone taking a trip to Cuba is likely to be familiar with the products of these firms and getting the chance to experience the history and story of these businesses is something that can add to the excitement of a Cuban holiday. Like most things in Cuba, the Revolution of the late 1950s and early 1960s changed a lot about the way that these companies operate, but the quality and distinction of Cuban rum have never wavered. A holiday to Cuba is not complete without rum.

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