Cuban Cigar Brand
There are not many places in the world where Cuban cigars are unknown. So sought after are they, that there is quite a market for them, even fake ones, normally sold to unsuspecting individuals. There are ways to safeguard yourself though; shopping from a reputable dealer. If you are going to spend a large sum on them, try using a specialist mail order cigar supplier.
If you are offered a box of Cuban cigars, you would be very wise to give the box a good examination first. Being armed with a little knowledge on the subject should help you spot the fakes. The most important thing to examine is the box itself, as authentic Cuban cigars will have a green and white warranty seal on the left front side of the box, this seal will contain an insignia that has a picture of a shield and a hat. Also there should be a white sticker placed across the box with the word ‘Habanos’ printed on it; this can be found on the upper right corner.
The overall appearance of the box should be neat and clean so if the box appears damaged, smudged, frayed, marked, or if the color of the box is dull, don’t buy it. On the bottom of the box of cigars, you should find a heat stamp with the words ‘Habanos.’ Fake Cuban cigar boxes often find other ways to imprint this label, such as using rubber stamps or paper labels. An additional factory stamp on the bottom of the box indicates when and where these cigars were rolled using blue, green or black ink.
However, it is still possible that even though the cigars are genuine they may still have suffered some damage whilst en-route. If you can open the box, take the time to smell the tobacco because Cuban cigars will have a deep, rich aroma, unmistakable to dedicated cigar aficionados. A weak or an indistinct aroma is a sure sign that it is not a box of Cuban cigars. The top row of cigars may also appear slightly flatter than the rest but they should all be facing the same way.
While checking the cigars, make sure that the foot of each cigar is cut clean, and that all the caps and bands are the same. Try, if possible, to examine the texture of the cigars as they should be firm but pliable and uniform in their feel. This article should help you examine and decide if a box of Cuban cigars you are offered is genuine or not.
