The mojito was born in the tropical landscape of Havana, Cuba, though its precise origins are as clouded as the frothy top of a freshly-stirred mojito. Some stories trace it back to the 16th century when Englishman Sir Francis Drake came ashore in Havana. A concoction similar to the mojito, called 'El Draque,' was allegedly consumed for medicinal purposes.
Historians suggest the mojito, with roots in the Cuban sugar cane fields of the 19th century, may have been developed by African slaves who enjoyed Guarapo, a sugar cane juice. The cocktail, therefore, also serves as a reminder of a time of stark inequality, slavery, and the emergence of global economics.
Today, the mojito has become a symbol of Cuban identity, intertwining a past marked by slavery with its present-day popularity as a must-try tourist drink. However, it's also a reflection of the ongoing commoditization of culture and a tool for distinguishing economic and racial lines in contemporary Cuba. The mojito we know and love today began to take shape in the early 20th century, as Cuba's sugar cane industry boomed and rum became a staple in Cuban cocktails.