Considering I share the same last name with the iconic American television family from That 70’s Show, the Formans, it is often surprising to people that I am Hispanic. My mother immigrated to the United States when she was only 3 years old, and she brought with her the culture of Cuba. My grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins on my mother’s side exude everything that is Cuba — and it makes me proud to share some of the feminine Cuban touches imparted to me by the women of my family.
“Pulsos”
Most American teens might call them “bangles,” but any Cuban woman knows them better as “pulsos.” I’m not talking about the colorfully assorted, oversized, plastic bracelets you could easily pick up at Claire’s jewelry store. Pulsos are delicate, refined, and worn almost every single day by the women in my family. To be authentic, pulsos should be very thin and true gold — and wearing seven is necessary to make a statement for good luck. This iconic Cuban accessory is worn as naturally as one would wear a watch. I’ve often seen my grandmother wear pulsos with other very thin gold chains around her wrist on the same hand. The soft clanking noise made by the pulsos as they would fall down my grandmother’s arm makes me nostalgic just thinking about her. It’s as if you knew she was reaching for a book or standing from a chair when you could hear those pulsos ringing around her wrist. Besides taking me down memory lane, pulsos serve as the perfect understated accessory when you feel like adding just a touch of gold!
“Café con leche”
The literal translation of “café con leche” is “coffee with milk,” and that is probably the best way to describe this morning and after-dinner treat. Just like Americans have their own preparation for coffee, Cubans do as well. I can truly only speak to the way my family makes it, and how I have come to know and love café con leche. For a twist from your normal caffeine routine, try warming a coffee mug filled with milk in the microwave for two minutes (or until the milk is hot). Once it is warm, add three to four teaspoons of Bustelo instant coffee depending on how strong you like your coffee. Add a little Splenda to sweeten up this treat, and you basically have a Cuban latte, if you will. It may not seem like much, but I promise it really hits the spot. I would be letting down my Papi if I didn’t mention that the only way to truly relish the café con leche experience is to dip pressed and buttered Cuban toast into your coffee. No Cuban underestimates the simplicity and sheer mouth-watering quality of Cuban bakery bread that has been buttered and pressed in a Panini maker until it is thin and crispy. The crispy and buttery flavor mimics a croissant, and dipping it into the bittersweet café con leche is, as my Aunt Maria would say, “dee-lish!”
“Violeta”
“Violeta” is more than just a perfume. It is the scent of my childhood. Much like holy water, Cuban women splash Violeta on virtually anything they care about —their hair, their clothes, and especially their babies. Violeta is considered a baby’s perfume and is thus very light, refreshing, and delicate. However, its use is certainly not limited to babies as my mother has a jug of this delicious-smelling violet water on every surface of her bathroom. As you can imagine, I do too. As soon as I get out of the shower, it’s all over me. If I just want to quickly freshen up before walking out the door, I splash it on my neck, hair, and shirt. And don’t forget about before bed! My grandmother used Violeta so much I swore I could faintly smell its sweetness just by walking into her bedroom. It is so light that the bottle itself squirts out much more than the average perfume. You may be surprised to hear that one can find Violeta in virtually any convenience store — including Publix! It is the perfect fragrance for every day, and is truly the only perfume I haven’t gotten sick of wearing in the 19 years I’ve been using it. But maybe that’s just the Cuban in me…
I hope you will be inspired to “Spice It Up Cuban Style” by adding some of the essence of Cuba to your diet, fashion, and lifestyle after reading this post!