How to Spot Fake Cuban Cigars

The ultimate smoke is the legendary Cuban cigar. The near-impossibility to legally import them into the United States, not to mention their premium price, makes them even more coveted. If you want to enjoy the real deal and not some knock-off, here are some pointers on how to spot fake Cuban cigars.

Instructions

1. Flip the box over. Look for a heat-stamped "Habanos s.a. HECHO EN CUBA Totalmente a mano" across the base of the box. Counterfeiters usually just stamp this on the back in ink, if they put it on the box at all.

2. Look at the green seal on the box. It can vary from a forest to a lime green, but the medallion on the left-hand side should always have the edge of the lid cover running right through the middle of it. The design in the medallion resembles a shield with a hat on top of it. The seal should be on the lower corner of the box.

3. Inhale deeply when you open the box. Anything less than a rich, pleasing aroma is suspect. This is especially true if you do not see a precision cut strip of wax paper running across the cigar bands, a Habanos warranty printed on parchment and a loose flap of paper to cover the cigars.

4. Touch the cigar along its length. A genuine Habano rolled by an expert will not have "hard" and "soft" spots but will feel uniformly firm throughout.

5. Take out a cigar and inspect it. The outside leaves, or wrappers, should be uniform in color with no dry, chalky texture. You should see only a rich, dark brown color when you look at the ends. Real Habanos have small, twig-like stems visible at the end, not green tobacco.

6. Notice the divider in the box. It should be a thin sheet of cedar, with no cracks or splits, cut perfectly to match the box and have a machine-cut half moon shape in the upper right hand corner. Cardboard liners are never used in the production of a genuine top grade Cuban cigar.

7. Check the bottom layer of cigars. They should not look any different from the ones on the top layer. Sticking to the lining paper is always a sign that you are dealing with fake Cubans, since the counterfeiters are often in a hurry to seal up the box and may not wait for the glue to dry properly.

Tips & Warnings

• If the box looks like it has seen better days, it is another sign that you are looking at fake cigars. The box may be genuine, but the contents certainly aren't.