Cuba Ron: much more than an academic experience

The visit to the Don Pancho warehouse of the Cuba Ron factory marked an approach to the collaborative relations that the VLIR-IUC programme of the Universidad de Oriente holds with important industries and institutions in this region of the country.

During the tour, Belgian and Cuban academics learned about the birth and production of Light Rum, its various brands and modes of presentation.

The excellence of its scent, color, flavor and cultural value was explained by the master blenders who assure that, beyond its economic cost, the production and consumption of rum is a cultural manifestation worthy of preservation.

Currently, one of the most important research within P5, focused on the development of energy, biofuels and clean technologies, works directly to extend the useful life of activated carbon, essential in the balance of the organoleptic components of the aguardiente.

MSc. Harold Crespo Sariol, Ph.D student in this programme, explained that the possibility of recovering at least 30 percent of carbon once its absorbent capacity has been restored, has already demonstrated.

Light Rum has been produced in this city since 1862. Its range includes some well-known brands such as Añejo, Carta Blanca, Añejo Superior and Extra Añejo. The most recent brand, Ron Extra Añejo Santiago de Cuba, was designed to celebrate the 500 years of the former village in 2015.

Nowadays, Light Rum is one of the products that are subject to improvements in terms of its production and treatment thanks to research carried out by doctoral students of the VLIR-IUC programme.

Translator: Lilia Sanz Gámez