Cuban cigar boxes and their characteristics

What characterizes Cuban cigar boxes? At some point you ask yourself that. I would like to use this Cohiba Limitada 2021 to show you. The external features may vary depending on the country and may include additional stickers. However, certain stickers, branding stamps and seals are present on all boxes and outer boxes. I also show some photos of Cohiba fakes. With this post, you should be able to distinguish fakes from originals.
Content
- NFC technology is no guarantee for original products
- Cuban cigar boxes and their characteristics
- Quick check to see if the cigars are originals
- The photos with the features
- What to do if the verification of the barcode shows something else?
- Counterfeit Cohiba Esplendidos and Robusto
- Resources on the topic
NFC technology is no guarantee for original products
Habanos S.A. used NFC technology for the first time in 2023. The Cohiba Siglo de Oro box was equipped with it. Here is my video about it. Such chips and the URL they contain can be read, copied and reproduced by technically skilled counterfeiters.
This was demonstrated to me personally. I scanned the box of a non-Cuban brand with my iPhone and was directed to the Cohiba Siglo de Oro information.
Cuban cigar boxes and their characteristics
The features shown here relate to productions since around 2009. Older boxes have completely different features and must be checked on a case-by-case basis.
First an overview. Then the photos are explained in detail.
Front / Margins
The Habanos label. It has been in use since 1994 and has been modified and adapted several times to date. The label is affixed at the top right and across both corners. This label must never be inside the box, which is often the case with counterfeits.
The green guarantee seal. Did you know that it was introduced in 1889 and has been changed and adapted several times since then? This seal must also never be affixed in the box or anywhere else. It is always located at the bottom left of the box or outer carton and is stuck over the edge.
The label of the official importer. This looks different depending on the country in which the cigars are purchased. If it is a parallel import, this sticker is missing (this is permitted in Switzerland, for example).
Back
The tax seal. Depending on the country, there is a tax label with the sales price of the cigars. This label does not exist in Switzerland.
The branding are located on the back of the box or outer carton. These are not stamps. Habanos S.A. (from 1994), Hecho en Cuba (from 1960), Totalmento a mano (from 1989).
Boxing Date Stamp on the back of the box or outer carton. Factory code, month and year in which the cigars were packed in the box (boxing date). From 1985 to 1999, the boxing date was coded. From 2000 it is not coded. For example, ABR 23 means "April 2023".
- ENE = January
- FEB = February
- MAR = March
- ABR = April
- MAY = May
- JUN = June
- JUL = July
- AGO = August
- SEP = September
- OCT = October
- NOV = November
- DIC = December
Quick check to see if the cigars are originals
The features shown here relate to productions since around 2009. Older boxes have completely different features and must be checked on a case-by-case basis.
- Is the date on the back? If it is missing, this is a sure sign that it is a counterfeit.
- Does the green guarantee seal have a holographic element and is the guarantee seal in the bottom left-hand corner? If not, it is a counterfeit.
The photos with the features
The outer carton or box.
When buying specialty products, the outer carton should always be included in the purchase. This is because the outer carton contains important information, that are missing on the box. This is particularly important for collectors and for those planning to sell at a later date. The dealer's receipt should always be kept.
If they are cigars without an outer box, you will find the characteristics on the box.
The outer carton: front, back, edges

BELOW, from left to right:
1) There is a Tabacuba sticker under the large green seal (shown uncovered in the next photo). This sticker is sometimes slightly visible if the large green seal does not cover it completely.
2) The green seal contains a holographic part at the top. The guarantee seal was introduced in 1889 and has been modified and adapted several times to date. The features of Cuban cigar boxes change over the years. It also contains other features which I will explain below.
3) In Switzerland, there is also a sticker from the official importer. In other countries, other stickers or seals may be affixed (e.g. the tax seal).
4) The brand sticker.
ABOVE, from left to right:
1) The "Limitada" sticker is affixed here and in this position. Or another sticker if it is a regional edition.
2) The Habanos sticker.

This photo was taken in 2018 in a factory in Havana, Cuba. You can see the Tabacuba sticker. The green guarantee seal will be stuck over it later.
From behind

The date stamp is on the back. It contains a code for the factory in which the cigars were rolled, as well as the month and year in which the cigars were placed in the box. There are lists of factory codes on the Internet. However, as these are constantly changing, such lists are misleading, unless you always show the current codes (which is hardly possible).

From left to right:
1) The green warranty seal contains a barcode with a number. This number can be found in seven different places on the seal. In some places the number is only partially included, in other places it is complete.
You can check the number on the Habanos website. But be careful: the database is not 100% accurate and errors may occur. You can find the link for verification in the Resources section.
2) The label of the official importer.
3) The brand sticker.
The barcode verification
I typed in the barcode and the verification was correct. You can find the link in the Resources section.


Guarantee seal

Here is a close-up of the green seal from the holographic part (introduced in the course of 2009). At that time, it did not yet have trimmed corners and in between the corners were rounded. It shimmers in different colors depending on the light. If you look closely, you will see the barcode mentioned above in the green part on the left.

Here, the holographic part shimmers in a different color.

This shimmering green logo on the green guarantee seal is only visible under black light. Here, too, the barcode can be seen almost in the middle at the top.
The box: Front, back

The embossing is clean and clear. The box contains the legally required label.

On the back of the box is the legally required label and a sticker with the price and importer. Why are the brand stamps and the boxing date duplicated? Habanos are sold worldwide. In some countries the warnings must be placed in the upper part, in others in the lower part. If these stamps were placed in the middle, nobody would be able to recognize the boxing date. So these stamps are now double - a very good idea!
At the top right is "Jan. 2023". This is an internal stamp of the Swiss importer and means when this box left the warehouse and was sent to the dealer.

The closure is clean and precise.

Back of the crate: One of the hinges.
The box from the inside

When you open the box, you will see: information from the official importer, information from Habanos and information about the specialty. For standard cigars, only the first two pieces of information are present. The stamp on the lid is clean, as is the stamp label. It should be straight, here was not quite concentrated work.

The cedar wood panel is neatly stamped.

There is a thin paper underneath. It turns yellowish-brown during the ripening period.

The cigars are the same size, the cigar rings are in the same place.
The enclosed information

This is the information about the specialty. It has a holographic element at the top and bottom.

This information can be found in every cigar box, regardless of whether it is a standard cigar or a specialty.
The cigar rings

Close-up of the cigar ring above. Note the holographic elements in various places here too. The printing and embossing are clean and clearly printed.

Close-up of the lower cigar ring: holographic elements can also be found here. Everything is cleanly and clearly printed and embossed.

The cigar cap is clean and accurate.

My lens has distorted something in this photo, sorry.
What to do if the verification of the barcode shows something else?
The barcode and the hologram have changed their appearance several times to date. The barcode can be checked online on the Habanos S.A. website. Towards the end of 2011, a serial number was also printed in microprint in various places on the seal. Attention: In September 2024, the URL of Habanos S.A. is still not https and the browser may indicate that it is an unsafe website.
This review is not always 100% correct. The Cubans do not list their products very carefully. Therefore, it can happen that you have an original product, but the barcode on the website is not verified or even a different cigar is displayed. In this case, please proceed as follows:
- Make sure that your product was purchased from an authorized dealer.
- Contact your dealer and ask them to check your product for authenticity. Your dealer will do this for you at the official importer.
- Exceptions: Parallel importers often remove the barcode so that the product cannot be traced. Parallel imports are permitted in Switzerland.
Counterfeit Cohiba Esplendidos and Robusto
Cohiba is often counterfeited. Here are photos of counterfeits.

Esplendidos. Plexiglass lid? No. Never.

Esplendidos. Unclean and it is not branded.

Roubsto: Unclean and it is not a branding stamp.

Robusto: The barcode is not printed correctly. If you verify this number, "Romeo y Julieta No. 1" appears.

Robusto: Particularly interesting: the hologram was cut out of a real seal and glued back on in two halves. The edge can be seen in the middle of the hologram. It has also been turned upside down and the writing is upside down.
Resources on the topic
Habanos barcode verification / Attention: In September 2024, the URL of Habanos S.A. is still not https and the browser may indicate that it is an unsafe website.
Thank you very much for the article. For me it was unfortunately very confusing.
warm smoker greeting
Raymond
Hello everyone, I found a box of Cohiba Esplendidos in the estate of my brother. A friend had brought it to him from Cuba.
Who can tell me how many cigars are inside and if you are real?
Photos I can send .
To whom do I send them?
Thanks a lot
Thank you for the eMail. I have already replied. The cigars are fake.
Hello, I own a box of cigars Habanos Montecristo 10 Robustos. Stamp is missing on the back. I know that I bought these in the 90s. How can I get the exact vintage? Thank you very much.
Hello Nina, Montecristo Robustos in a box do not exist in standard sales. They were available as a limited edition in 2000/2001 with 25 in a box and in 2016 as a selection with 6. Without seeing the photos I can tell you they are fakes. But to be sure: I need good photos please to genuss@zigarren.zone:
> From all sides of the box - including the underside
> Photo of the hologram from the green seal
> Photo of the bar code from the green seal
> Photo of the purchase receipt
> Several photos of the cigars
> And: Several photos of the cigar ring
The photos must all be sharp so that I can give an assessment. Best thanks.
Hello, can you say something about branding cigar boxes? I have a few originals. Thank you very much.
G. Neubauer
Mannheim
Hello Günther, I don't understand the question. What do you mean? LG, Vasilij