You’ll rarely find Cuban cigars with prestigious brand names in a bodega, quick-stop or curio shop. Seek out businesses that specialize in fine tobacco. Ask the salesperson to show you a certificate pointing out the legitimacy of the cigars they’re selling, or credentials for carrying a particular brand.
As of 2016, it is legal to bring a limited number of cigars (up to $100 worth) back into the United States from Cuba, but they cannot be sold within the US. There also still exist numerous restrictions on where certain Cuban products can be bought and how much can pass through Customs. [3] X Research source
Just as you wouldn’t expect to buy an actual Rolex from someone with a blanket of watches laid out on the sidewalk, you should be skeptical of cigars being passed off as legitimate in dubious locations or places where tourist traffic is high.
While you’ll be able to find real cigars skirting around the factories where they’re rolled, there will also be an abundance of imitations. For this reason, you’ll also want to learn how to spot fake individual cigars yourself. If you’re on the hunt for Cuban cigars outside of Cuba, play it safe and track down a licensed establishment.
Imitations are often sold in boxes with transparent glass or plastic lids. These peculiar lids are designed to satisfy you with a view of the product inside while keeping you from taking too close a look. Real cigars will always be sold in solid boxes that must be opened to view the cigars inside. Keep an eye out for spelling and grammatical errors, cheap printing methods, peeling stickers, and warped, damaged or flimsy boxes. Counterfeiters usually don’t go to the trouble of reproducing the quality standards of the packaging.
The bands on fake cigars are often much larger than the bands on real ones, in the hopes of drawing the buyer’s attention to the brand name and away from the cigar itself. Different cigar manufacturers print different unique bands, but all are made with painstaking attention to detail. Use common sense. If it doesn’t have the impressive flair of a real cigar band, it probably isn’t.
The inferior tobacco leaves used to wrap cheap cigars are brittle and prone to cracking, splitting and crumbling. They will also often be inconsistently colored, with a faded or mottled appearance.
A fake cigar will produce a bright white ash when it’s lit, whereas a real cigar will glow softly and leave a dark gray ash.
Cuban cigars are expensive, even in Cuba. Contrary to the idea that they’re cheaper there because they’re more common, the makers of Cuban cigars know that their products will fetch a high price. They also understand that people will pay more for the experience of smoking a great cigar. If you live in the United States, the recent lifting of the trade embargo with Cuba will make it possible for you to bring home real Cuban cigars, but only up to $100 worth. In most instances, this will only get you 3-4 good cigars. [12] X Research source
Unlike other commercial goods, cigars are considered specialty craftsman goods, much like fine foods and aged liquor. It is rare that you will find these types of goods sold for less than what they’re worth.
Wholesale deals are often made to unsuspecting tourists to trick them into thinking they’re getting more for their money. Don’t be fooled by these types of scams. Due to their price point, Cuban cigars are often bought individually. Only people with a lot of money will be able to purchase an entire box of cigars at once, let alone multiple or suspiciously large boxes.
Forged Warranty Seals and other stamps and stickers will usually appear cheaply made, have misspellings and lack any sophisticated security indicators like holographic images. Never buy a cigar or box of cigars if any of the adhesive components appear to have been broken, removed, replaced or applied carelessly.
For certain people, their work may permit them to engage in travel and exchange with Cuba. Some of these professions include journalism, political diplomacy, education, humanitarian aid, historical and cultural research and specialty medicine. Updated government sanctions only permit $100 worth of tobacco and alcohol products to pass through Customs on the way back to the United States. This equals a meager 2-3 quality Cuban cigars.
The Habanos company manages the importing and exporting of brand-name Cuban cigars. You can often find stores licensed to carry cigars with the Habanos seal in major international cities. [20] X Research source
Importing Cuban goods to the US must be done under the watchful eye of Customs agents and demands that you adhere to a specific set of legal guidelines. When ordering online, there’s also no way of knowing whether what you’re buying is real or imitation.
