purchasing a genuine Cuban cigar ought to be a great deal of fun – particularly when you’re in Cuba. however it’s so essential to understand exactly how to area a fake cigar. right here are our suggestions on spotting fake cigars.
Cuban cigars are the very best cigars in the world. To quote a Cuban cigar professional we spoke with when we were there: even 3rd rate Cuban cigars will be thought about world class anywhere else.
They’re Cuba’s many well-known export as well as one of the very best mementos you can purchase when you’re travelling in Cuba.
And smoking a fine, hand-crafted cigar, which ought to truly be thought about a work of art, is a fantastic thing indeed.
However, when you’re purchasing a cigar – particularly if it’s from a location you can’t assurance is authentic – you requirement to understand what to look for to area a fake.
What is a fake cigar?
There are two kinds of fake cigar.
In Cuba, there are ‘farmer’s’ cigars that are smokeable, are hand-made utilizing cigar-grade tobacco, however with one of the cigar home labels put on them.
Worse than that, there are ‘cigars’ that look real, however are in truth made of rolled banana leaf or a number of different things to make you believe they’re appropriate cigars.
Outside of Cuba, you may discover cigars that look the genuine deal, however are just inferior cigars from other parts of the world with a Cuban cigar label put on them to trick you.
Our experience of fake cigars
Thankfully, I have never purchased a fake cigar, though I was provided one in a bar in Havana once. The barman stated the cigars were genuine – they even had Montecristo collars on – as well as were ‘special’. They were in an old wooden box he kept behind the bar as well as were so dodgy.
I might quickly see from exactly how misshapen they were as well as that the labels were shoddy as well as faded that these were not real. plus the barman told me they were about $2 each. That’s method to affordable – even in Cuba.
I have purchased farmers’ cigars though.
The ones you can see right here are all farmers’ cigars. I purchased these from a tobacco farmer in Vinales – the tobacco region in Cuba where all the very best cigar homes source their tobacco.
The farmers never pretend these cigars are anything however what they are: cigars they’ve made themselves with their own tobacco. however they’re great examples of what we’re speaking about.
How to area a fake Cuban cigar
Poorly connected cap
The cap is a little piece of tobacco leaf that’s glued on best at the end of the cigar-making process. This is the final completing touch as well as when the expert rollers do it, it’s perfect.
If the cap isn’t on straight, is as well huge or isn’t stuck down all the method round, it’s fake.
Wonky shape
Professionally rolled cigars go with several extensive checks at the workshop before they get anywhere near the door. If a cigar isn’t dead straight, it’ll be rejected. If it’s bulging as well much, it’ll likewise go in the decline pile.
Gaps in the foot
The foot of the cigar – the bit you light – ought to look like the cross section of a Cadbury Twirl of a Flake. You ought to be able to see exactly how the filler is bunched as well as packed when the roller was making it.
If there are any type of gaps, holes or huge pieces of woody looking tobacco, it’s most likely a fake. The rollers take excellent care in making sure the filler is consistent. If it’s not, the cigar won’t smoke properly.
Baggy, ragged or poorly shaped wrapper
The wrapper is a single leaf of tobacco that goes round the outside of the cigar as well as holds in the filler as well as binder. The wrapper ought to be smooth, a bit shiny, uniform colour as well as fitting neat as well as tight to the cigar.
The leaves the rollers utilize for the wrappers go with even much more stringent inspections than the other parts of a cigar, so they ought to be perfect. If the wrapper looks loose or poorly made, this might be a fake cigar.
Loose or extremely soft feel to body
Give the cigar a gentle squeeze. If there’s as well much provide between your finger as well as thumb, there’s most likely a space in the filler, which implies the cigar most likely wasn’t rolled by a professional. Some cigars are rolled tighter than others as part of their brand, so if you have a few you can inspect, compare them. If they’re all loose, it might just be the style of that cigar.
Too cheap
Let’s deal with it, cigars aren’t affordable – even in Cuba. If the cost is a great deal lower than you were expecting to pay or than what you’ve seen in shops, it’s most likely since they’re fake. As the stating goes: if it seems as well great to be true, it most likely is.
Collar isn’t directly or faded colours
Inspect the collar – the label that goes around the cigar. If it’s faded, wonky or looks a bit ‘hand-made’ (it’s the only part of the cigar that is made by a machine), it’s most likely a fakecigar. look out for collars that look a bit creased or used – the counterfeiters commonly re-use old collars.
So if you’re in Cuba as well as somebody provides you affordable cigars on the street or tells you about a ‘co-operative’ in a home round the corner, by all implies have a look, however be prepared to discover only fakes.
You ought to likewise inspect out our other guides on cigars:
9 suggestions on exactly how to select a cigar
Is your cigar mouldy as well as can you smoke it?
Our library of cigar stories as well as guides
And if you’re heading to Cuba, you ought to certainly inspect out the cigar path Havana day trip Cuban Adventures does.
Have you had any type of experiences of being offered fake cigars in Cuba or anywhere else? Do you have any type of other suggestions to add for spotting a fake cigar? tell us in the comments!