Famous for their quality, aroma and flavor, Cuban cigars are renowned throughout the world. Indeed, they are so prized that many illegitimate dealers have been known to sell fake Cubans to unsuspecting cigar smokers. There are ways to safeguard yourself though; Shopping cigar them from a reputable cigar dealer. There are legitimate mail order companies that specialize in supplying genuine Cubans or you could try your local tobacconist.

Before buying a box of purported Cuban cigars though, you need to ensure they are genuine so take a good look at them first. Here are a few tips to help you spot the fakes from the real thing. 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. There is also a white sticker with the word ‘Habanos’ placed diagonally on the upper right hand corner.

The box should not have any marks, print smudges and should have a good clean damage free condition. There is also the word ‘Habanos’ heat stamped into the bottom of the box. It is quite normal for fake Cuban cigar boxes to have a printed paper label stuck on or a rubber stamp impression to try and forge this imprint. The box can also tell you where and when the cigars were rolled by means of a factory code stamp on the base of the box in black, green or blue ink.

It is worth checking the cigars as well because damage may have occurred in transit. Cigar connoisseurs will immediately recognize the distinct aroma of a Cuban cigar if they are given the opportunity to open the box. A box of authentic Cuban cigars will not have a weak or indistinct aroma so if you find yourself with a box of cigars like this they are almost certainly fakes. 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. If allowed, test the cigars out by pressing down on them and feel along the entire length of each cigar, checking for soft or hard spots as the cigars should feel firm yet pliable. Although there is quite an amount to remember, these are special cigars and any connoisseur would want to ensure that his next box of Cuban cigars is the real thing.