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How to Spot Fake Cuban Cigars

By Ben Wallace

Cuban cigars are extremely coveted, renown worldwide for their rich flavors and smoothness. Indeed, Cuban cigars are so treasured that many illegitimate dealers have been known to sell fake Cubans to unsuspecting cigar smokers. So, the question is how to tell fake Cuban cigars from the real thing?

First and foremost, make sure to purchase your cigars from a legitimate dealer. That means only buy from your local tobacconist or a reputable mail order business. This will ensure that you are buying quality cigars and not counterfeit ones.

Before you open your wallet and pay for that box of purported Cuban cigars, take some time to closely examine the box and packaging. Authentic Cuban cigars will contain a green and white warranty seal on the left front side of the box.

This seal has an insignia that resembles a shield with a hat on top of it. On the upper right hand corner of the box, you should find a white sticker that is placed diagonally with the word “Habanos” printed on it.

In addition, the overall appearance of the box should be neat and clean. If the box appears damaged, smudged, frayed, or marked, avoid it. This could indicate fake cigars.

Also, don’t buy if the color of the box is dull. Even if the cigars are the real stuff, their quality may have been somewhat degraded or compromised during transport.

If you are in the market for Cohiba, Trinidad, or Q’dorsay brand cigars, know that all authentic Cohiba’s will contain the green and white warranty seal on the right hand side of the box.

Across the base of the box of cigars, look for a heat stamp with the words “Habanos s.a. HECHO EN CUBA Totalmente a mano”. The heat stamp should be impressed onto the bottom of the box. Fake Cuban cigar boxes often find other sneaky ways to imprint this label, such as using rubber stamps or paper labels.

Besides that, you should also find a factory code stamp at the bottom that is stamped in green, blue or black ink. This stamp will tell you when and where the cigars were rolled.

If possible, open the box and sniff the contents (tobacco). Cuban cigars usually have a deep, rich aroma that is unmistakable to dedicated cigar aficionados. If the smell is way off, or very weak, chances are you don’t have a box of authentic Cuban cigars in your hands.

Another thing you want to look for is to make sure that the cigars are facing the same direction, and the top row may appear slightly flattened. The caps on all the cigars should also appear identical, and the foot of each cigar should be cut clean.

Furthermore, the bands on all the cigars should be alike, and arranged in such a way that they all face the same direction.

If allowed, slightly press down on cigars to test them. Feel along the entire length of each cigar, checking for soft or hard spots. Good quality Cuban cigars should feel firm yet a little pliable.

Keep these simple techniques in mind, and you can be very sure that the next box of cigars you purchase, is real and definitely not fake.

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