If you have an opportunity to purchase a box of purported Cuban cigars, but have your doubts, take the time to examine the box before purchasing it.  Here are a few tips to help you spot the fakes from the real thing.

The most important thing to examine is the box.  Authentic Cuban cigars will contain a green and white warranty seal on the left front side of the box.  The seal will contain an insignia that has a picture of a shield and a hat.  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.  The overall appearance of the box should be neat and clean.  If the box appears damaged, smudged, frayed, or marked, avoid it.  If the color of the box is dull, don’t buy it.  Even if the cigars are the real things, their quality may have suffered in 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.

On the bottom of the box of cigars, you should find a heat stamp with the words ‘Habanos.’  The heat stamp should be impressed onto the bottom of the box.  Fake Cuban cigar boxes often find other ways to imprint this label, such as using rubber stamps or paper labels.  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 you can open the box, take the time to smell the tobacco.  Cuban cigars will have a deep, rich aroma, unmistakable to dedicated cigar aficionados.  If the smell is off, or very weak, chances are you do not have a box of authentic Cuban cigars in your hands.    The cigars should be facing the same way, and the top row may appear slightly flattened.  The caps on all the cigars should appear identical, and the foot of each cigar should be cut clean.  The bands on all the cigars should also be identical, and should be arranged so that they face the same direction.  If allowed, test the cigars out by pressing down on them.  Feel along the entire length of each cigar, checking for soft or hard spots.  The cigars should feel firm yet pliable.

You can however ship Cuban cigars within the US.  The reason we know this is true is because if you order cigars online from any cigar shop around the country, you can order online and have your selection be sent to your house.  You are buying Cuban cigars from this shop online, and therefore you can ship Cuban Cigars to US (but I guess it’d be more within the US).

I’m not sure what would happen or if you would actually get caught if you tried to ship into the US, but I think it’s probably best to let Cuban cigars get here the way they do and to just buy them here.  If you really want to smoke one from Cuba, because you feel there’s something different with the one shipped to the US, then take a trip to a Cuba, if you’re allowed to travel there, or some other nearby country and enjoy one while you’re there.  Make it more of an experience and don’t take the chances of shipping across international borders.