How to Verify Authentic Cuban Cigars — 100% Guaranteed

Every cigar we sell is a genuine Habano produced by Habanos S.A., the official Cuban state tobacco company, and sourced directly through authorized channels in Havana. This guide explains exactly how to confirm a Cuban cigar is authentic — the seals, holograms, barcodes and construction details that separate the real thing from the counterfeits that flood the grey market.

1. The Cuban Government Warranty Seal (Sello de Garantía)

Every authentic box of Cuban cigars carries the green-and-cream “Sello de Garantía Nacional de Procedencia” — the Cuban government’s guarantee of origin. It reads “República de Cuba — Cubatabaco”, carries a printed serial number, and is applied across the box opening so that it tears the moment the box is first opened. The printing is fine and crisp with sharp register; counterfeit seals are typically blurry, off-color, or misaligned. An intact, undamaged seal on a sealed box is your first confirmation of authenticity.

2. The “Habanos S.A.” Denomination of Origin

Genuine Cuban cigars bear the “Habanos S.A.” mark — the body that controls and guarantees every authentic Habano worldwide. You will find it embossed on the warranty seal and referenced on official packaging. It confirms the cigars are true Cuban Habanos and not a non-Cuban imitation using a similar brand name. You can read more about the official body at habanos.com.

3. The Secondary Barcode & Hologram (boxes after 2009)

Since March 2009, Habanos S.A. added an extra layer of anti-counterfeit protection: a holographic security strip and a secondary barcode on the warranty seal. The hologram shifts color and pattern as you tilt the box in the light — a feature that is extremely difficult and expensive to fake convincingly. The barcode links the box to its production batch. Counterfeits usually have a flat, dull, or missing hologram and a barcode that does not scan. Note: genuine vintage boxes produced before 2009 will not have this strip, and that is expected — older seals are normal on aged stock.

4. Bands, Construction & Finish

Authentic Habanos are entirely hand-made and the quality shows. Inspect the cigars themselves:

  • Bands should be perfectly aligned and uniform across the box, with crisp gold embossing and clean color.
  • Construction should feel firm but slightly springy — never rock-hard or spongy. Glue points are minimal and invisible.
  • Wrapper should be smooth, oily and consistent in shade across all cigars in the box.
  • Foot (the open end) should show a tidy, multi-leaf filler bunch, not a single rolled-up leaf.

Sloppy bands, uneven color, or a uniform machine-made look are red flags.

5. The Price Test

This is the simplest check of all. Cuban cigars are expensive for good reasons — limited harvests, years of aging and skilled hand-rolling. If an offer for a box of Cohiba Behike, Cohiba Siglo or Montecristo is far below the going market rate, it is almost certainly counterfeit. Authentic Habanos are never sold at a fraction of their value.

Our 100% Authenticity Guarantee

We pre-verify every box before it ships. Each order leaves our humidor with the official Habanos S.A. seal intact and full traceability from Vuelta Abajo, Cuba. If you ever receive a product you believe is not genuine, we offer a full money-back authenticity guarantee — no questions asked.

Satisfaction & Delivery Guarantee

We promise high-quality products, reliable shipping and exceptional service, backed by a 14-day satisfaction guarantee. Delivery is guaranteed except for situations arising from client error, such as:

  • Wrong or insufficient address
  • Address change due to relocation or a move
  • Unsuccessful delivery due to the customer not being present
  • Assumed loss after tracking shows the package delivered

No refund is due if a package is not delivered for one of the reasons above, and the delivery guarantee does not extend to re-shipped replacement packages. For full terms see our Returns & Refunds policy.

Note: Since March 2009 a new warranty seal is placed on all boxes of Cuban cigars. You may occasionally receive boxes with older seals — vintage boxes legitimately come with the pre-2009 seal.