Cuban Lunch ** (see note at bottom re comments)
The Cuban Lunch is a true Western Canadian chocolate bar and hasn’t been made for almost thirty years. Thanks to a Camrose woman and her mother’s love of this chocolate-peanut candy, it’s available once again.
Winnipeg claims to be the original source (this is hardly fair, they get Winnie the Pooh AND the Cuban Lunch?). Paulin’s and later McCormick’s made the Cuban Lunch until it was discontinued in about 1991[i] and the trademark was expunged.
The Cuban Lunch may have been around since 1948 and may have received its name from one of its ingredients, Spanish peanuts (Spanish = Cuban?). Its most distinctive feature is the red frilled paper it’s wrapped in.
Crystal Regehr-Westergard who lives in Camrose, Alberta, has resurrected the Cuban Lunch for her 84-year old mother.
The process of restoring the Cuban Lunch was lengthy; Regehr-Westergard bought the trademark when it became available and then spent a few months experimenting with recipes. She (and her husband) found a factory in Delta, BC to manufacture the chocolate bar[ii].
I came across a whole stack of Cuban Lunches in the local Safeway store. I bought a couple – they are more chocolate than I remember, the peanuts were delicious – the calorie count is fairly high, 350 per bar, so I cut the bar into four pieces and consumed it slowly, over twenty minutes.
[i] http://www.winnipegomyheart.com/2015/12/cuban-lunch-a-winnipeg-classic/
[ii] https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/cuban-lunch-chocolate-bar-alberta-camrose-1.4733400
** NOTE: Comments have been stopped. Please address any questions about supplies, sources, recipes, etc. to:
Thanks for reviewing Cuban Lunch on the BCFHN site!
You’re welcome! There have been a lot of comments on Cuban Lunch. Please email [email protected] if you like.
Mary Leah
Cuban Lunch had a distinct character – whole Spanish peanuts with their red skins. Hence the red wrapper. The current CL bar uses skinless crushed peanuts. The chocolate is less milky and is greasier.
It is too bad that the original recipe and method has never been found.
Thanks for the keeping the history of Canadian chocolate bars alive!
I agree – the current chocolate is better quality! The old version was waxier.
I am looking to get a few. Any suggestions as to where to pick some up around Vancouver?
I found some yesterday at Thrifty Foods (owned by Sobey’s). What a wonderful surprise to see it after so many years.
Loads of places! email us at [email protected] for a list!